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| Achaemenid Empire | |
|---|---|
| 550 BCE–330 BCE | |
 Standard | |
 The empire at its height around 500 BCE | |
| Common languages | Old Persian Aramaic |
| Government | Monarchy |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,500,000 km² |
The Achaemenid Empire, also known as the First Persian Empire, was a multinational ancient state stretching from what is now Bulgaria to Pakistan. It began in 550 BCE with the unification of Persia and Media and quickly grew to include Egypt and much of Western Asia. The empire fell after Alexander of Macedon conquered Persepolis in 331 BCE.[1]
History
In 357 BCE, Cyrus the Great allowed a group of Jewish exiles to travel to Palestine from Babylonia.[2] Persia attempted to invade Greece twice but was defeated at Marathon in 490 BCE and Salamis in 480 BCE. Macedon destroyed the empire in 331 BCE at the Battle of Gaugamela.[1]
Government
The empire was divided into tribute-paying provinces ruled by satraps, with roads and a postal system connecting different regions. Satraps controlled large armies, but the King would take control of the military in the event of a major rebellion or foreign expeditions. Local kings and satraps held immense power, causing frequent rebellions.[1]
Military
Each ethnic group in the Achaemenid military retained its own fighting style; for example, the Persians fought as spear infantry and the Medes were light cavalry.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Neil Faulkner (2013). A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals: 'Ancient Empires' (pp. 29–42). [PDF] Pluto Press. ISBN 9781849648639 [LG]
- ↑ Neil Faulkner (2013). A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals: 'The End of Antiquity' (p. 54). [PDF] Pluto Press. ISBN 9781849648639 [LG]