Historical Timeline One- 9th Century BC to 330 AD

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9th Century BC ­ 330 BC

9th Century BC - The Medes migrate to the Zagros mountains, in present-day northern Iran.

8th Century BC - The Persians migrate from the Indian subcontinent to Fars plateau in southern Iran.

630-553 BC - Life of Zoroaster, founder of Persian religion.

612 BC - The Babylonians, Scythians, and the Medes destroy Nineveh, essentially destroying the Assyrian Empire.

553-530 BC - Reign of Cyrus II (the Great).

550 BC - Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) defeats the Median king, Astyages, incorporating Median society into Persian empire.

547- 540- BC Cyrus II defeats Lydia and Bablyon, extending his empire from Iranian plateau in the east to the Mediterranean in the West.

530 BC Cyrus II is killed in battle against the Massagetaes.

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529-522 BC Reign of Cyrus's son, Cambyses II. Persian expansion into Egypt.

522-485 BC Reign of Darius I. Darius divides empire into 20 satraps or provinces, institutes reforms in taxation with a common currency and a standing army. Founding of Persepolis (LINK to U.Chicago pictures?). Achaemenian empire at apex of expansion.

490 BC Beginning of Persian Wars with Greeks.

490 BC Persian army defeated at Marathon.

485-465 BC Reign of Xerxes.

481 BC Renewal of war with the Greeks.

480 BC Spartans defeated by Xerxes at Thermopylae; Athens burned by Xerxes. Athenians destroy Persian fleet at Salamis.

479 BC Grecian forces under Pausanias, defeat Persians at Plataea.

465 BC Xerxes, the last of the great Achaemenian kings, assassinated by palace guards.

465-336 BC Decline of Achaemenian empire under Araxerxes, Arses and Darius III.

333-330 BC Alexander the Great of Macedonia campaigns against Achaemenian Empire under Darius III. Alexander defeats Darius at Cunoxa. Burning of Persepolis and destruction of Achaemenian Empire.

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