The Achaemenid Empire, or Achaemenid Persian Empire, (550–330 BC) was the first of the Persian Empires to rule over significant portions of Greater Persia (or Iran). It followed the Median Empire as the second great empire of the Iranian peoples.  At the height of its power, the Achaemenid Empire had about 7.5 million square kilometers and was territorially the largest empire of classical antiquity.

The empire was forged by Cyrus the Great. It spanned three continents, including parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan; parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor, Thrace; much of the Black Sea coastal regions; Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria; and all significant population centers of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya. The empire was the foe of the Greek city-states in the Greco-Persian Wars. It freed the Israelites from their Babylonian captivity, and instituted Aramaic as the empire's official language. Because of the Empire's vast extent and long endurance, Persian influence upon the language, religion, architecture, philosophy, law and government of nations around the world lasts to this day.

History 
The empire began as a tributary state of the Medes but ended up conquering and enlarging the Median empire to include Egypt and Asia Minor.  Under Xerxes, it came very close to conquering Ancient Greece.  The Achaemenids were overthrown by the conquest of Alexander the Great in 330 BCE.

Achaemenid kings and leaders 

 Teispes of Anshan, son of Achaemenes
 Cyrus I of Anshan, son of Teispes
 Cambyses I of Anshan, son of Cyrus I
 Cyrus II, the Great, son of Cambyses I, ruled from c.550-530 BCE (ruler of Anshan c. 559 BCE – conquered Media 550 BCE)
 Cambyses II, son of Cyrus the Great, ruled 529-522 BCE
 Smerdis (Bardiya), alleged son of Cyrus the Great, ruled 522 BCE (Possibly a usurper)
 Darius I, the Great, brother-in-law of Smerdis and grandson of Arsames, ruled 521-486 BCE
 Xerxes I, son of Darius I, ruled 485-465 BCE
 Artaxerxes I Longimanus, son of Xerxes I, ruled 465-424 BCE
 Xerxes II, son of Artaxerxes I, ruled 424 BCE
 Sogdianus, half-brother and rival of Xerxes II, ruled 424-423 BCE
 Darius II Nothus, half-brother and rival of Xerxes II, ruled 423-405 BCE
 Artaxerxes II Mnemon, son of Darius II, ruled 404-359 BCE (see also Xenophon)
 Artaxerxes III Ochus, son of Artaxerxes II, ruled 358-338 BCE
 Artaxerxes IV Arses, son of Artaxerxes III, ruled 338-336 BCE
 Darius III Codomannus, great-grandson of Darius II, ruled 336-330 BCE

Related pages
 Persian Empire
 Cyrus the Great, Founder of Achaemenid dynasty and King of Persia.
 Darius I, King of Persia.
 Sassanid Empire

References

Sources
 Stronach, David "Darius at Pasargadae: a neglected source for the history of early Persia," Topoi
 Stronach, David "Anshan and Parsa: early Achaemenid history, art and architecture on the Iranian Plateau". In: John Curtis, ed., Mesopotamia and Iran in the Persian period: conquest and imperialism 539–331, 35–53. London: British Museum Press, 1997.

Further reading 

From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire, Pierre Briant, Eisenbrauns: 2002,

Other websites 

 Achemenet The major electronic resource for the study of the history, literature and archaeology of the Persian Empire
 Persepolis Before Incursion (Virtual tour project)
 Musée achéménide virtuel et interactif (Mavi)  a vast "Virtual Interactive Achemenide Museum" of more than 8000 items, dedicated to the inheritance of the Persian Empire, from Cyrus to Alexander the Great, is now accessible on the Internet thanks to the initiative of a College de France professor, Pierre Briant.
 Livius.org on Achaemenids
 Livius.org on Achaemenid Royal Inscriptions 
 Cyrus' Charter of Human Rights
 Achaemenid art on Iran Chamber Society (www.iranchamber.com)
 Persepolis Fortification Archive Project
 Photos of the tribute bearers from the 23 satrapies of the Achaemenid empire, from Persepolis 

History of Iran
History of Pakistan
Mesopotamia
Former countries in the Middle East
Empires