Definition
The Persian Empire refers to a series of large empires based in the Iranian plateau, the first and most famous being the Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Great in the sixth century BCE. Later Persian states included the Parthian and Sasanian empires.
At its height the Achaemenid Empire was the largest the world had yet seen, stretching from the Indus Valley to Egypt and the edge of Greece.
Why it matters
How it works
The Persian Empire managed its enormous scale by dividing territory into provinces called satrapies, each governed by an official answerable to the king. A network of royal roads sped communication and trade, while a policy of tolerance toward local religion and custom reduced rebellion. This model of inclusive imperial administration influenced later empires. Persian states remained major powers for over a thousand years, ending only with the Arab conquest of the Sasanian Empire in the seventh century CE.