Achämenidenreich
Das erste große Perserreich (ca. 550–330 v. Chr.), gegründet von Kyros dem Großen; das bis dahin größte Reich der Alten Welt, bekannt für seine Verwaltungsorganisation und religiöse Toleranz.
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- Period
- 550–330 BCE
- Founder
- Cyrus the Great
- Capitals
- Pasargadae, Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana
- End
- Conquest by Alexander (330 BCE)
Details
The Achaemenid Empire was the first great Iranian empire and the largest the ancient world had yet seen, founded in 550 BCE by Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) with the overthrow of Media. By conquering Lydia and Babylon and adopting a policy of tolerance toward diverse peoples and religions, Cyrus created a model of inclusive rule symbolized by the Cyrus Cylinder. Darius the Great organized the empire through the satrapy system, the Royal Road, the gold daric coinage, and the Old Persian cuneiform script, and built the ceremonial capital of Persepolis, while Susa, Ecbatana, and Pasargadae also served as principal centers. Its domain stretched from the Indus to Libya and from Central Asia to Egypt, though its invasions of Greece (Marathon, Salamis) ultimately failed. The empire collapsed in 330 BCE after Darius III's defeat at Gaugamela, conquered by Alexander of Macedon.
Verwandte Einträge
Quellen
- Encyclopædia Iranica, "Achaemenid Dynasty"
- Pierre Briant, From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire
- Amélie Kuhrt, The Persian Empire (Routledge)