Follow the Royal Highway of Darius I on this old map of the Persian Empire from University of Texas. The borders of the satrapies are shown also.

Tom Richey's PowerPoint presentation on the Persian Empire includes a comprehensive overview of ancient Persia with maps, informational text, and humor.

This article from Morey's 1901 textbook recounts the attacks on the Roman Empire by the Sassinids from the east and the Germanic barbarians from the north.

Read about the various kings of the Persian Empire and the battles they created to strengthen their empire.

The BBC surveys the history of the Persian Safavid Empire (1501-1722) in what is now modern Iran. Founded by the Sufi Brotherhood, it adopted the Shi'a version of Islam and the cause of the hidden Imam, which still influences the...

Famous for monumental architecture, Persian kings established numerous monumental centers. This article looks at one of those centers: Persepolis. Read about the history and view pictures of the architecture, art, and sculptures of...

Follow Alexander the Great as he builds a tremendous empire, significantly changing and improving geography and history.

Here is an overview of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of the Persian Empire. Learn about the religion and its implementation.

Excerpt from a commentary by Herodotus on the customs of the Persians.

This World Heritage website looks at the ancient city of Persepolis, located in Iran. Found here are a description, maps, documentation, photos, and a video on its history.

Read about the various kings of the Persian Empire and the battles they created to strengthen their empire.

A map showing the extent of the Empire of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, from Macedonia to northern Africa, across Asia Minor to the Indus River. The inset map show the site of the Battle of the Granicus in 334 BC, near Troy, where...

Wonderful biography of Themistocles, the great Athenian general and politician who established the Greek navy.

A long and in-depth look at the book of Daniel, its main religious significance and themes. Please note that ?The Catholic Encyclopedia? is a historic reference source and should be viewed in the context of resource material dated around...

Bisotun is located along the ancient trade route linking the Iranian high plateau with Mesopotamia and features remains from the prehistoric times to the Median, Achaemenid, Sassanian, and Ilkhanid periods. The principal monument of this...

Learn specifics about Zoroastrianism, the non-pantheistic religion of the Persian Empire.

The Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent were part of the northern lines of the Sasanian Persian Empire, which extended east and west of the Caspian Sea. The fortification was built in stone. It consisted of two...

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey) for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire, and Artemisia II of Caria, his wife and sister. The structure was designed by...

A Persian sword, whence Horace speaks of the Medus acinaces. The acinaces was a short and straight weapon; and thus differed from the Roman sica, which was curved. It was worn on the right side of the body, whereas the Greeks and Romans...

Alexander defeating the Persians.

A robe worn by the Medes and Persians over their trowsers and other garments. It had wide sleeves, and was made of woollen cloth, which was either purple or of some other splendid colour. In the Persepolitan sculptres, from which the...

Eagle, as a military standard, was adopted by the Romans, and even by nations preceding them in history. The Persians, in the time of Cyrus the Younger, bore an eagle on a spear as a standard. The Romans for some time used the eagle, the...

Here [Darius] was assassinated by Bessus, the satrap of Bactria. He was discovered by Alexander in a dying condition by the roadside. He asked for a cup of water, thanked the giver, and died. And with him died the Empire of the...

An image depicting an ancient city of the Persian, Parthian, and Elamite empires of Iran.