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Under Darius, the Persian Empire became the largest of its time. As the map illustrates, the empire stretched from North Africa to India and from the Aral Sea to the Persian Gulf. It covered 7,500,000 square kilometres (2,900,000 square miles), making it comparable with the Roman Empire and the Chinese Han Empire.
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www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/peopl...
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/people.html
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A power struggle followed Cambyses' death and, despite his tenuous connection to the royal line, Darius was declared king (ruled 522-486 BC). He was to be arguably the greatest of the Persian rulers. Darius' first capital was at Susa, and he started the building programme at Persepolis.
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www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/dariu...
www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/persia/darius.html
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Cyrus also expanded the Persian empire greatly in the east to the edge of India; but if he was influenced by the new religion of Zarathushtra, it did not quell his desire for imperial conquest. Near the Jaxartes River he ran into the Massagetae led by Queen Tomyris who sent him the following message:
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www.parstimes.com/library/brief_history_of_persian_empi...
www.parstimes.com/library/brief_history_of_persian_empire.html
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For the most part, the Persian Empire ruled many other empires, including those of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Syria, and some parts of Asia Minor and India. The Persians dominated Mesopotamia from 612 BC to 330 ... The new government also appointed the Persian Empire with two official capitals, one at Susa and one at Persepolis.
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www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/middle_east/anci...
www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/middle_east/ancientpersia.html
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In 530, Cyrus died and was succeed by his son Cambyses (530-522). Cambyses expanded the borders of the Persian empire to include Egypt. However, he took his own life in 522 due to stress induced by the threat of a revolt within the empire.
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www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/middle_east/persia.html
www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/middle_east/persia.html
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It would be also good not to forget about the important contributions and legacy the Persian Empire left to the world, before dismissing it as "yet another non-Western entity". Here are just a few reminders:
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www.americanthinker.com/2007/04/the_ancient_persian_emp...
www.americanthinker.com/2007/04/the_ancient_persian_empire.html
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The Persian empire was established by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC, conquered and changed by Alexander the Great in 330 BC, and finally overthrown by the rise of the Islamic civilization in 537 AD. ... Ancient Persian Empire: Timeline and Definition; At its height about 500 BC, the Persian empire had conquered Asia...
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archaeology.about.com/od/persianempire/Ancient_Persian_...
archaeology.about.com/od/persianempire/Ancient_Persian_Empire.htm
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The Persian Empire dominated Mesopotamia from 612-330 BC. The Achaemenid Persians of central Iran ruled an empire which comprised Iran, Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, and parts of Asia Minor and India. Their ceremonial capital was Persepolis ... Darius established a government which became a model for many future governments:
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www.crystalinks.com/persia.html
www.crystalinks.com/persia.html
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Especially after the Greeks conquered the Persian Empire in 330 BCE. Paganism progressed with the help of the newfound knowledge; they had found answers to some of the mysteries. Some of the knowledge that was beyond their cognizance, they either called it magic or changed them.
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web.utk.edu/~persian/benevolent.htm
web.utk.edu/~persian/benevolent.htm
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