History

Cyrus Takes Babylon: Herodotus

The Histories by the Greek researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus (fifth century BCE) are the world's first historical study. The account of the Fall of Babylon -which is here presented in the translation by George Rawlinson- proves beyond all reasonable doubt that the author never spoke a Babylonian about the event. Only two details he has right: t...

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Persian Empire

The later years of the Achaemenid dynasty were marked by decay and decadence. The mightiest empire in the world collapsed in only eight years, when it fell under the attack of a young Macedonian king, Alexander the Great....

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Glory of Persia - Five Stages of Iran History

When it comes to the history of Iran, you will find five distinct stages which shaped the future of the country. Those broad stages often include the early, pre-historic, the pre-Islamic statehood, the Middle Ages, the early modern era, and modern day (recent history)....

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The Achaemenians

The Persians achieved unity under the leadership of Achaemenes, whose descendant Cyrus brought the Achaemenian Empire onto the centre stage of world history. Cyrus was the descendant of a long line of Persian kings and should be referred to as Cyrus II, having been named after his grandfather... According to the writings of Herodotus, the last rule...

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History of Persia

From the Medes and the Persians of 9th Century BC. Of the two main Indo-European tribes moving south into Iran, it is at first the Medes who play the dominant role. With a capital at Ecbatana (modern Hamadan), they establish themselves as powerful neighbours of Assyria. In 612 they combine with Babylon to sack the Assyrian capital at Nineveh. Their...

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Culture of Iran

History; Culture & Art; Celebrations; Religion; Codes of Behavior; and Gender Relations in Iran...

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Aryans

Aryans: name of the ancestors of the Persian elite of the Achaemenid empire. (Not to be confused with Arians.)...

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Three Treaties Between Sparta and Persia

In the first phase of the Peloponnesian War, the Archidamian War, the Spartans had been unable to achieve their aim: dissolving the Delian League. However, after the catastrophic losses that Athens had suffered during the Sicilian Expedition, the balance of power had changed and Sparta renewed the war: the Decelean or Ionian War. Moreover, the Athe...

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Glory of Persia

The essence of Persian culture, history and civilization....

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Ancient Persia History

The early history of man in Iran goes back well beyond the Neolithic period, it begins to get more interesting around 6000 BC, when people began to domesticate animals and plant wheat and barley. The number of settled communities increased, particularly in the eastern Zagros mountains, and handmade painted pottery appears. Throughout the prehistori...

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