The Achaemenid empire originated in the sixth century B.C. and lasted for more than two hundred years. It was the first world power in history and encompassed, under the rule of the Persian kings, dozens of countries and peoples living in a huge area which stretched from Egypt in the west to northwestern India in the east. Essentially, the history of the Achaemenid realm is the history of all the Near East and West Central Asia. The Achaemenid empire represents a crucial period during which the foundations were laid for important socio-economic and political institutions and cultural traditions which were to play a vital role in world history. It is this aspect which explains the great interest in the subject shown by scholars and a wide circle of lay readers...
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