THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE

From its humble start in Persia, the Achaemenid Empire rose to become a colossal power, stretching from the borders of the Aegean Sea to the center of India. Under ambitious rulers like Cyrus the Great and Darius I, it flourished, embracing diverse cultures and religions within its vast dominion. The Achaemenids constructed a sophisticated infrastr