Who Was When

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Achaemenid Empire

Middle East & Central AsiaHeartland today: Iran

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Founded by Cyrus II around 550 BCE, the Achaemenid Empire absorbed Media, Lydia, Babylonia and Egypt and reached from Anatolia to the Indus valley. Alexander of Macedon ended it after defeating Darius III.

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Key events

  1. Cyrus II defeats Astyages of Media and takes Ecbatana, putting Medes and Persians under one king
  2. Cyrus II takes Babylon; the Cyrus Cylinder, now in the British Museum, records his rule there
  3. Cambyses II defeats the Egyptians at Pelusium and takes Memphis, adding Egypt to the empire
  4. Darius I has his accession and the defeat of the revolts carved at Behistun in Old Persian, Elamite and BabylonianDisputed

    The carving was made in stages and scholars date its versions to within a few years of 520 BCE.

  5. Darius I begins Persepolis, a royal complex of halls and palaces on a vast stone terraceDisputed

    Sources place the start of building around 518 BCE; some give 515 BCE. Work went on under Darius's successors.

  6. Athenian forces beat the Persian landing at Marathon, ending Darius I's expedition against Athens

    Sources agree on the year but not the date: Livius works out 12 August or 10 September 490 BCE from the Greek lunar calendar.

  7. Alexander of Macedon defeats Darius III at Gaugamela, and Darius leaves the field
  8. Alexander burns buildings at Persepolis; Darius III is murdered the same year and the dynasty ends