Classical Antiquity
Achaemenid Empire
550 BC – 330 BC · peak 500 BC
The Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BC) was founded by Cyrus the Great and unified diverse cultures under a central administration based at Persepolis and Susa. King Darius I divided the territory into 20 satrapies linked by the Royal Road and a standardized postal system. It was dismantled after a series of military defeats by Alexander the Great, ending with the death of Darius III.
Capital: Persepolis
Key figures
Battles in this period
Trade routes in use
- Amber Road (1500 BC – 500 AD)
- Incense Route (1000 BC – 400 AD)
- Persian Royal Road (500 BC – 300 BC)
- Phoenician Mediterranean Routes (1100 BC – 300 BC)