every thing about Achaemenid Empire, Cyrus The Great, Persepolis

The Persian Empire was one of the greatest empires in human history. Its rise to power saw it conquer most of the known world, while its fall saw it conquered by Alexander the Great and other Greek kings. It was ruled by a succession of great rulers during its prime, including Cyrus the Great, Xerxes II and Darius III. However, there are many untold stories about this powerful empire that you probably haven't heard before, which will be revealed shortly…

The Rise of the Persian Empire

It was Cyrus the Great who founded the Persian Empire between 559 BC and 529 BC. Known as one of history's greatest rulers, Cyrus the Great not only led and conquered great empires, but also built one of them.
He led Persia to expand into areas such as Asia Minor (modern Turkey), Egypt, and even parts of Greece as a result of his leadership abilities and military prowess. Because Cyrus treated those under his command with respect, despite their different races and religions from him, there were no revolts or rebellions against him.

Cyrus the Great: A Great Leather or an Unworthy One?

There are people that still believe that Cyrus the Great was a cruel and non-worthy leather, but Cyrus the Great was not a savage. He was a great leader, conqueror and king who conquered the Medes and the Babylonians. He gave freedom to those who were enslaved by other states, including Jews who had been held captive in Babylon for 70 years (the biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem is believed to have coincided with this time). His rule extended over 2 million square miles (5 million km2) at its greatest extent, making him one of history’s earliest figures whose achievements are comparable with modern nation-builders such as Napoleon Bonaparte or Adolf Hitler.

What happened to Persepolis?

Alexander the Great came to Persepolis in 330 B.C. and burned down the Palace of Darius, taking all its treasures back with him to Macedonia. He left a great deal of destruction in his wake, including looting and burning down several other important Persian sites such as Susa and Pasargadae which date back in Achaemenid Empire times.

Alexander's invasion was one of the most successful military campaigns in history. He conquered an area almost twice as large as modern-day France within just 10 years of starting his military career at age 20! Alexander was also known for being a great general (the highest rank an officer can achieve), leader, strategist, conqueror and explorer—but he never became a king after conquering those lands because he died young at 33 years old.

The Collapse of the Persian Empire

The Achaemenid Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great. His conquest lasted from 334 to 331 BC, and is known as the "Alexander's Campaigns".
Alexander's conquest of Persia started with several battles: the Battle of Gaugamela in 331 BC; the Battle of Persian Gate (or Cunaxa) in 330 BC; the Battle of Issus (333 BC); and finally, Arbela (331), where Darius III was defeated by Alexander.
The Macedonian army proceeded to conquer much of Asia Minor, including Ephesus on its way to Persepolis, which surrendered then on 330 B.C.

What Did Alexander Do to Persepolis?

In 330 B.C., Alexander the Great destroyed Persepolis because it was the capital of Persia and he wanted to show his superiority over Persia, which had fought against Greece in the Greco-Persian Wars almost two centuries earlier. Alexander was angry with Xerxes II for burning Athens during that conflict, as well as for killing his father, Philip II.

Seleucus & Antiochus I Helped Alexander Take Persia

Seleucid history is fascinating, and it can provide us with a better understanding of Persia's past. Seleucus I Nicator (the Conqueror) was one of the most important leaders in ancient history. During his reign, an empire lasted over 300 years. By defeating rival kingdoms around Seleucus's territory, Antiochus I Soter continued expanding his father's empire.
The 23-year-old Alexander the Great played a significant role in this story by conquering Persia! After defeating Darius III at Gaugamela, he took Persepolis within six months of becoming king, conquered India in three years of becoming king, conquered Egypt in four months after taking control of India (where Ptolemy maintained control), invaded Anatolia without any problems before he turned back due to illness – but not before he defeated Ptolemy countless times.

In the aftermath of Alexander's victory over King Darius III, he died unexpectedly at age 32 after drinking too much wine.

Xerxes II's reign was short-lived

The Persian Emperor Xerxes II (r.425-424 BC) ruled for only 45 days before being murdered by the son of one of his father's concubines. A moderately successful ruler before his death in 425 BC, Artaxerxes I (r.466-425 BC) had achieved some successes against the Greeks. On the orders of his half-brother, one of his father's concubine's sons (named Sogdianus or Secundianus), the only legitimate son of Xerxes was executed just forty-five days after he came to the throne as Xerxes II. Another fairly weak ruler, Darius II (r.423-404 BC) controlled relations with the Greeks through the governors of Asia Minor. According to the gap between the last tablet of Artaxerxes and the first tablet of Darius, it is likely that Sogdianus and Darius claimed the throne at about the same time. However, this may reflect a later desire to erase both short-lived reigns.

Symbol & Social Structure of Persian Empire

There is little information about the early Persians' worship of their gods except that it involved fire and outdoor altars. Several aspects of it are thought to have been similar to modern-day Zoroastrian rites. It is possible that the kings' religious beliefs – polytheistic or Zoroastrian monotheistic – were mentioned in inscriptions from the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550-330 BCE). Religion continued to play a central role in the later Parthian Empire (247 BCE-224 CE) and, in a much larger way, during the Sassanian Empire which made Zoroastrianism its state religion. In that empire, there was only one deity called Ahura Mazda and it recognized only one deity. Despite the rights of conquered peoples to practice their own religions, Zoroaster's religion was the official religion of the Persian Empire.

Symbolically, the Faravahar represents the Zoroastrian faith. Symbolically, one hand is reaching forward toward a bearded man. An eternity-symbolizing circle stands behind him, with wings outstretched. Zoroastrianism also values fire as a symbol of light, warmth, and purification.

When did the Persian Empire Conquer Egypt?

Egypt was invaded by the Achaemenid Empire in 525 BC under King Cambyses II. Battle of Pelusium was a sound victory for them, and they took control of Egypt. As the Persian Empire conquered Egypt, it became the world's largest empire. Afterward, Egypt became a Persian Empire satrapy (province). Twenty-seventh Dynasty leaders ruled the satrapy. Persia ruled over Egypt for 100 years.
As a result of Darius I's rule, Egypt prospered. He built temples and presented himself to Egypt as a pharaoh. Nevertheless, later Persian leaders, such as Xerxes, treated Egypt cruelly, causing much internal turmoil and rebellion.

The Persian Empire was a great empire, with a rich history and culture. The stories of how the Persians conquered Egypt and Greece still live on today in movies like 300 or books like Ben Hur. But these are only some of the untold stories of this ancient empire.