The Persians were one of the last great ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia. They were an Indo-European group of people settled in east Mesopotamia, near present day Iran. By 486 BC, the Persians would control all of Mesopotamia and, in fact, all of the world from Macedon northeast of Greece to Egypt, from Palestine and the Arabian peninsula across Mesopotamia and all the way to India. The Persian Empire stretched from the Indus to Nile, 3,000 mi., and ruled more than 50 million people. This was due to Cyrus, who developed a strong army in 540 BC, and his son Cambyses who brought all of the middle east under Persia's control. .
Cyrus and Cambyses were great conquerors, but the best organizer among the kings was Darius I, who ruled from 522 BC to 486 BC. He divided Persia into separate provinces, which were ruled by satraps. They saw over their province and often expected them. Darius brought artisans form their conquered areas to build a magnificent city, Persepolis. During his reign he also laid the Royal Road. This stretched 1,500 mi. and shortened a 3 month journey to 7 days. However, he also laid the plans for an attack on Greece in 480 BC his son Xerxes led this an it failed, stopping Persia's advance into Europe. .
Around 650 BC a man named Zoroaster started a new religion that was dualistic. This implied that the universe was under control of two contrary gods, good versus evil. These were the basics of his religion, there was good and evil in the world and humans were caught in the middle. Zoroaster's religion beliefs may have lead the way and helped shape Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The Persian empire greatly influenced other cultures, such as the Greek, but was conquered by Alexander the Great in the 300's BC. .
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