THE ASCENT AND DECLINE OF THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE

From its humble origins in Persia, the Achaemenid Empire rose to become a colossal power, stretching from the shores of the Aegean Sea to the center of India. Under ambitious kings like Cyrus the Great and Darius I, it expanded, incorporating diverse cultures and religions within its vast dominion. The Achaemenids built a sophisticated system of ro