Achaemenid empire
Also called: Persian empire · Topic: Bronze Age Civilisations: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 1 "Writing and City Life"; Class 11, Ch 2 "An Empire Across Three Continents"
Meaning
The Achaemenid empire was a large Persian (Iranian) empire. In 539 BCE it conquered Babylon, which was then the leading city of the world. This ended the rule of Babylon's own kings, but Babylon stayed a great centre of learning and trade. Persian rule over Mesopotamia lasted until Alexander of Macedon conquered the region.
Example
In 539 BCE the Achaemenids, under Cyrus, took Babylon. Babylon stayed the world's premier city, covering more than 850 hectares, with a triple wall, a ziggurat and well-known mathematicians and astronomers. In 331 BCE Alexander took Babylon from the Persians.
Don't confuse with
- Assyrian empire: an earlier empire based in northern Mesopotamia (720–610 BCE). Babylonia broke free of it in 625 BCE. The Achaemenids came from Iran and conquered Babylon later.