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# Persian Empire (Achaemenid)

# Persian Empire (Achaemenid)

## Overview
The Achaemenid Persian Empire (550–330 BCE) was the largest empire of the ancient world by territory, stretching from Egypt to the Indus Valley. Founded by Cyrus the Great, it pioneered administrative innovations including satrapies, a postal system, and religious tolerance.

## Key Facts
- Region: Iran, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Central Asia, Indus Valley
- Period: 550–330 BCE
- Capital cities: Pasargadae, Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana
- Language: Old Persian (official), Aramaic (administrative lingua franca)
- Religion: Zoroastrianism (royal religion)

## Notable Rulers
- Cyrus the Great (559–530 BCE): Founded the empire, conquered Babylon (539 BCE) [^1]
- Darius I (522–486 BCE): Administrative reforms, built Persepolis, Royal Road
- Xerxes I (486–465 BCE): Invaded Greece (480 BCE)
- Darius III (336–330 BCE): Defeated by Alexander the Great

## Achievements
- Cyrus Cylinder: Early declaration of human rights and religious tolerance [^2]
- Royal Road: ~2,700 km highway from Susa to Sardis
- Satrapy system of provincial governance
- Qanat irrigation technology
- Persepolis: Monumental ceremonial capital

## Decline
Conquered by Alexander the Great; Darius III defeated at Gaugamela (331 BCE), Persepolis burned 330 BCE.

---
[^1]: Briant, P. *From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire* (2002)
[^2]: Kuhrt, A. "The Cyrus Cylinder and Achaemenid Imperial Policy" *JSOT* 25 (1983)
---

## Review Queue

<!-- factbase:review -->
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Iran, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Central Asia, Indus Valley" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Period: 550–330 BCE" - when was this true?
> 330 BCE event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capital cities: Pasargadae, Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Old Persian (official), Aramaic (administrative lingua franca)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Religion: Zoroastrianism (royal religion)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Cyrus the Great (559–530 BCE): Founded the empire, conquered Babylon (539 B..." - when was this true?
> 530 BCE event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Darius I (522–486 BCE): Administrative reforms, built Persepolis, Royal Road" - when was this true?
> 486 BCE event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Xerxes I (486–465 BCE): Invaded Greece (480 BCE)" - when was this true?
> 465 BCE event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Darius III (336–330 BCE): Defeated by Alexander the Great" - when was this true?
> 330 BCE event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Cyrus Cylinder: Early declaration of human rights and religious tolerance [^2]" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Royal Road: ~2,700 km highway from Susa to Sardis" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Satrapy system of provincial governance" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 26: "Qanat irrigation technology" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 27: "Persepolis: Monumental ceremonial capital" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Briant (2002) [^1]; Kuhrt (1983) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Iran, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Central Asia, Indus Valley" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Period: 550–330 BCE" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capital cities: Pasargadae, Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Old Persian (official), Aramaic (administrative lingua franca)" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 14: "Religion: Zoroastrianism (royal religion)" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Darius I (522–486 BCE): Administrative reforms, built Persepolis, Royal Road" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Xerxes I (486–465 BCE): Invaded Greece (480 BCE)" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Darius III (336–330 BCE): Defeated by Alexander the Great" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Royal Road: ~2,700 km highway from Susa to Sardis" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Satrapy system of provincial governance" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 26: "Qanat irrigation technology" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 27: "Persepolis: Monumental ceremonial capital" - what is the source?
> Briant (2002) [^1]
- [x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 20: "Darius III (336–330 BCE): Defeated by Alexander the Great" - what does "III" mean in this context?
> III indicates the third ruler of that name in the dynasty.
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 17: "Cyrus the Great (559–530 BCE): Founded the empire, conquered Babylon (539 B..." - Briant source from 2002 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Yes, Briant (2002) scholarship on Cyrus the Great remains current and authoritative.
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 23: "Cyrus Cylinder: Early declaration of human rights and religious tolerance [^2]" - Kuhrt source from 1983 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Yes, Kuhrt (1983) scholarship on the Cyrus Cylinder remains current and authoritative.