In 550 BC Cyrus II led a revolt

In 550 BC, Cyrus II led a revolt against the Medes This victory marked the beginning of the Persian Empire He died in 529 BC after having built the largest empire the world had ever seen

Cyrus let the people he conquered keep their own customs His subjects were less likely to rebel This kept his empire strong For his success, he was given the title “the Great”

It was well organized and loyal The heart of the army were the Immortals, 10, 000 strong They used cavalry, units of soldiers who ride horses, to weaken the enemy before the Immortals attacked

Cambyses, Cyrus’ son, conquered Egypt He was succeeded by Darius I He divided the empire into 20 provinces Each had a satrap, or governor, who ruled for Darius

Darius also built many roads The Royal Road was 1, 700 miles long He built a beautiful new capital called Persepolis Zoroastrianism arose, teaching that there were two forces fighting for control of the universe

Darius expanded the empire all the way to the Indus Valley in India In 499 BC several Greek cities in Asia Minor rebelled Greek city-states sent troops to help Darius won, but was very angry

In 490 BC Darius invaded Greece He landed his army at Marathon near Athens, began the Persian Wars 11, 000 Greeks were able to defeat 15, 000 Persians because of better leaders and weapons which ended the first invasion

In 480 BC Xerxes I led another invasion, accompanied by the Persian navy The Spartans delay the huge Persian army at Thermopylae The Persians go on to capture and burn Athens

Soon after the fall of Athens the Greeks defeat the Persian navy at Salamis Then the army won a victory at Plataea Greece was saved

Though defeated, the Persian Empire would remain strong for another century