500 BCE: the Persian Empire Middle-Eastern empires

the history of man in iran goes beyond neolithic period. around 6000 bc, when people began domesticate animals , plant wheat , barley, number of settled communities increased, particularly in eastern zagros mountains, , handmade painted pottery appears. throughout prehistoric period, middle of sixth millennium bc 3000 bc, painted pottery characteristic feature of many sites in iran.

the first record of persians comes assyrian inscription c. 844 bc calls them parsu (parsuash (persians), parsumash) , mentions them in region of lake urmia alongside group, madai (medes). next 2 centuries, persians , medes @ times tributary assyrians. region of parsuash annexed sargon of assyria around 719 bce. medes came rule independent median empire, , persians subject them.

following overthrow of medes persians, inherit former s territories expand it. eventually, first persian empire (also better known achaemenid empire) stretch 3 continents, namely europe, asia , africa, encompassing 8 million square kilometers, , first world empire , largest empire world had yet seen in ancient world. @ peak stretch macedon , paeonia-bulgaria in west, indus valley in far east. founded cyrus great, notable embracing various civilizations , becoming largest empire of ancient history, successful model of centralised, bureaucratic administration (through satraps under king) , government working profit of subjects, building infrastructure such postal system , road systems , use of official language across territories , large professional army , civil services (inspiring similar systems in later empires), , emancipation of slaves including jewish exiles in babylon, , noted in western history antagonist of greek city states during greco-persian wars.

with estimated population of 50 million in 480 bc, achaemenid empire @ peak ruled on 44% of world s population, highest such figure empire in history.

the greco-persian wars culminated independence of persia s westernmost territories (comprising macedon, thrace, , paeonia) , definitive withdrawal balkans , eastern europe proper. in 333 b.c, following battle of gaugamela, empire overthrown , incorporated alexander great, starting new period in middle eastern history, 1 noted emergence of hellenistic , greco-persian culture, dynasties (e.g. kingdom of pontus).