Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

The Achaemenid Empire was a dynasty ancient kingdom based in Iran. Founded in the 6th century, making the Achaemenids the first original dynasty Persian who reigned over all of Iran.

This is also what makes the Achaemenid Empire also called the First Persian Empire.

Besides being Iran’s first dynasty, the Achaemenids grew over time to become the largest empire in history and cement Persian identity.

History of the Achaemenid Empire

History of the Achaemenid Empire, an ancient royal dynasty centered in Iran. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/frentusha)

The Achaemenid Empire first existed around 550 BC as the largest empire in Iranian history. The kingdom stretched from the European Balkan Peninsula in the west to India’s Indus Valley in the east.

The first king to establish and rule was Cyrus the Great or Cyrus the Great. This empire is often also called the Achaemenid Empire (Achaemenid).

The Achaemenid Empire became the ruler of Iran after King Cyrus the Great overthrew the Kingdom of Medes in the 6th century BC. Then this empire expanded and controlled its territory to the northeastern border of Greece.

Besides overthrowing the Medes, the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great also defeated other neighboring kingdoms, including Lydia and Babylon in the 6th century.

No other empire before this time was larger than the Achaemenid Empire. On the other hand, the Achaemenid Empire was at that time a world center of culture, religion, science, art and technology for more than 200 years.

During the time of Cyrus’ empire, there were three important sites of ancient human civilization in the world. These include Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley in Egypt, and the Indus Valley in India.

After the death of Cyrus the Great, his figure was immortalized in the Cylinder of Cyrus, a clay cylinder written in 539 BC.

In Cyrus Cylinder it is written about the story of how he conquered Babylon from King Nabonidus, to end the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

The height of the Achaemenid Empire

After being abandoned by Cyrus the Great, this ancient kingdom centered on Iran had time to regenerate its leadership.

Then, during the reign of Darius the Great (522-486 BC) who was the fourth king of the Achaemenid Empire, the Persian Empire was in a phase of very prosperous glory.

Under Darius the Great, the Achaemenid Empire expanded further and further into the Caucasus and western Asia.

Then connected to Macedonia (now the Balkans), the Black Sea, Central Asia, to the African region, including parts of Libya and Egypt.

In addition to uniting a number of empires so that they were connected into a single line of government, Darius the Great introduced coinage and scales to the general public.

The fourth king helped teach Aramaic as the official language or Old Persian.

Until the construction of a highway and a canal between the Nile and the Red Sea, as well as the construction of the Persian imperial complex and the displacement of the capital to Susa.

The Persians would be the first to establish regular lines of communication between the three continents of Africa, Asia and Europe.

They also built many new access roads and developed the world’s first postal service.

The fall of the Achaemenid Empire, more…