The Persian Empire (550 BC - 330 BC)

The Persian Empire (550 BC–330 BC), founded by Cyrus the Great, was the ancient world’s largest and most sophisticated superpower, stretching from the Balkans to the Indus Valley. Pioneering administrative innovations like satrapies (provinces) and a royal highway system, it fostered cultural tolerance and infrastructure. Yet, its decline began with costly wars against Greece and internal strife, culminating in Alexander the Great’s conquest in 330 BC. The empire’s legacy—Zoroastrianism, monumental cities like Persepolis, and governance models—influenced Rome and beyond. A testament to imperial ambition’s zenith and fragility.