What was the Achaemenid Empire known for?

The Achaemenid Persian Empire is famous for effectively creating an empire of many nations and cultures, giving each conquered culture a reasonable amount of autonomy and self-governance in the form of semi-independent provinces called satrapies. The empire is also famous for fighting the Greek city-states in the Greco-Persian Wars and for being ultimately conquered by Alexander the Great.

Who defeated the Achaemenid Empire?

Alexander the Great defeated the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BCE after a series of decisive Macedonian victories at the battles of Issus (333 BCE) and Gaugamela (331 BCE). Alexander was briefly King of Kings until his death in 323 BCE, when he was succeeded by Seleucos I Nicator, founder of the Seleucid Empire of Persia.

Achaemenid Empire Timeline

Definition

East of the Zagros Mountains, a high plateau stretches off towards India. While Egypt was rising up against the Hyksos, a wave of pastoral tribes from north of the Caspian Sea was drifting down into this area and across into India. By the time the Assyrians had built their new empire, a second wave had covered the whole stretch between the Zagros and the Hindu Kush. Some tribes settled, others retained their semi-nomadic lifestyle. These were the Iranian peoples.

More about: Achaemenid Empire

Timeline

c. 7200 BCE
Elamite community of Chogha Bonut established.
4395 BCE
City of Susa founded in region of ancient Persia.
c. 3000 BCE
Aryan tribes of Indo-Iranians migrate to the region, among them are Persians.
c. 1500 BCE - c. 1000 BCE
Development of the religion of Zoroastrianism in region of ancient Persia.
c. 1000 BCE
Scythians migrate from Persia into the Asian steppes.
850 BCE
Medes migrate into Iran from Asia.
750 BCE
Persians migrate into Iran from Asia.
727 BCE - 675 BCE
Medes unite during the reign of their king Dayukku (aka Deioces).
675 BCE - 640 BCE
Persians settle in Persis during the reign of their king Teispes.
628 BCE - 551 BCE
Life of Zoroaster, according to Pahlavi sources.
553 BCE
Cyrus the Great successfully rebels against the Medes and establishes the Achaemenid Empire of Persia.
c. 550 BCE
Cyrus the Great of Persia founds the Achaemenid Empire.
c. 550 BCE - 330 BCE
The Persian Achaemenid Empire reigns over Central Asia, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Egypt.
547 BCE
Anatolia conquered by the Persians. Ephesos remains neutral.
547 BCE
Phrygia becomes a Satrapy of the Persian empire.
546 BCE
The Persians occupy Cyprus, being invited by Cypriot leaders.
539 BCE
Fall of Babylon, conquered by Cyrus of Persia. Return of the Jews.
c. 539 BCE
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon; the Fertile Crescent is controlled by the Achaemenid Empire (The First Persian Empire).
530 BCE
Persia conquers the Indus Valley.
530 BCE - 522 BCE
Reign of Cambyses II of Persia.
525 BCE - 404 BCE
Persia conquers Egypt.
522 BCE
Darius I (Darius the Great) succeeds to the throne of Persia after the death of Cambyses II.
522 BCE
The Persian satrapy of Armenia briefly cedes from the Achaemenid Empire but is brought under control by Darius I.
c. 520 BCE - c. 325 CE
Achaemenid rule in the Gandhara region.
520 BCE
Darius I of Persia fights the Scythians (not very successfully).
c. 515 BCE
Darius I moves the capital of Persia from Pasargadae to Persepolis.
c. 513 BCE - c. 512 BCE
Darius I of Persia campaigns against Scythians into European Scythia, past the Danube River, Scythians refuse to fight and Darius is forced to abandon the campaign due to lack of provisions.
c. 499 BCE
Naxos is attacked by Darius' Persian forces.
499 BCE - 493 BCE
Ionian cities rebel against Persian rule.
c. 498 BCE
Ionians and Greek allies invade and burn Sardis (capital of Lydia).
492 BCE
Darius I of Persia invades Greece.
490 BCE
Rhodes comes under Persian rule.
490 BCE
Naxos is attacked for a second time by Persian forces.
11 Sep 490 BCE
A combined force of Greek hoplites defeat the Persians at Marathon.
486 BCE
Xerxes succeeds to the throne of Persia after the death of Darius I.
485 BCE - 465 BCE
Reign of Xerxes I (the Great) of Persia.
485 BCE
Babylon is destroyed by Xerxes, King of Persia.
480 BCE
Persians destroy the sanctuary at Sounion.
480 BCE
Sack of Athens by the Persians under Xerxes. The Agora is destroyed.
480 BCE
Persian forces attack the sanctuary of Delphi.
Jul 480 BCE
Xerxes I makes extensive preparations to invade mainland Greece by building depots, canals and a boat bridge across the Hellespont.
Aug 480 BCE
The indecisive battle of Artemision between the Greek and Persian fleets of Xerxes I. The Greeks withdraw to Salamis.
Aug 480 BCE
Battle of Thermopylae. 300 Spartans under King Leonidas and other Greek allies hold back the Persians led by Xerxes I for three days but are defeated.
Sep 480 BCE
Battle of Salamis where the Greek naval fleet led by Themistocles defeats the invading armada of Xerxes I of Persia.
479 BCE
Xerxes' Persian forces are defeated by Greek forces at Plataea effectively ending Persia's imperial ambitions in Greece.
478 BCE
Sparta withdraws from alliance against Persia.
c. 478 BCE
Xerxes I builds the Gate of All Nations, the Hall of 100 Columns and the grand Palace of Xerxes.
c. 449 BCE
Peace is agreed on by Athens and Persia, sometimes referred to as the Peace of Callias.
c. 449 BCE
Ionian cities become independent from Persia under the Peace of Callias.
412 BCE
Sparta allies with Persia.
401 BCE
Retreat from Persia of Xenophon and the ten thousand mercenaries.
c. 380 BCE - 330 BCE
Life of Darius III of Persia.
341 BCE
The Persians complete conquest of Egypt.
c. 336 BCE
Artaxerxes III builds the Hall of 32 Columns, the Palace of Artaxerxes and the Unfinished Gate.
May 334 BCE
Alexander the Great invades the Persian Achaemenid Empire.
5 Nov 333 BCE
Battle of Issus. Alexander the Great is victorious against Darius III of Persia.
331 BCE
Egypt is conquered by Alexander the Great without resistance.
1 Oct 331 BCE
Battle of Gaugamela. Alexander the Great calls himself "King of Asia."
330 BCE
Persian Achaemenid Empire falls to Alexander the Great.
330 BCE
Death of Darius III and end of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia.
May 330 BCE
Persepolis is burned and looted by Alexander the Great.
Jan 329 BCE - May 327 BCE
Alexander conquers Bactria and Sogdiana.
312 BCE - 63 BCE
The Seleucid Empire replaces the Achaemenid Empire.
247 BCE - 224 BCE
Parthia replaces the Seleucid Empire.
247 BCE - 224 CE
Empire of the Parthians.
63 BCE
The Roman general Pompey defeats the Seleucid Antiochus XIII and incorporates Syria as a province of the Roman empire.
224 CE - 651 CE
The Sassanian Empire replaces the Parthian Empire.
224 CE
Zoroastrianism becomes Persian state religion under the Sassanian Empire.
224 CE
Sasanians overthrow the Parthians.
240 CE - 270 CE
Reign of Shapur I, who first brought the Sassanian empire to its peak.
260 CE
Shapur I captures the Roman emperor Valerian at Edessa.
607 CE - 627 CE
East Rome defeats Sasanian Persia.
651 CE
Sassanian Empire conquered during the Muslim Arab invasion of the 7th century CE.