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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