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 rulers like Cyrus the Great and Darius I, it grew, embracing diverse cultures and religions within its vast dominion. The Achaemenids forged a sophisticated infrastructure of