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ancient Iran: Quick Facts

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Photos

Map showing the extent of the Achaemenid Empire during the 6th and 5th centuries BC, shaded in light green and spanning from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt through the Middle East to parts of Central Asia and the Indus Valley. Major regions, cities, and trade routes such as the Royal Road are labeled within the empire's boundaries.
Persepolis, Iran: sculpture
Map showing the Parthian Empire at its greatest extent in the 1st century BCE, shaded in green and covering much of present-day Iran, Iraq, and surrounding regions. Major ancient cities, trade routes, rivers, and neighboring territories such as Mesopotamia, Media, Persis, Sogdiana, and Armenia are labeled. The map also shows nearby bodies of water including the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea.
Map showing the extent of the Sasanian Empire during the reign of Shapur I, shaded in green. The empire covers parts of present-day Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf coast, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and extends westward toward the Eastern Roman Empire, with major regions and cities labeled throughout the territory.
Ancient rock relief at Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, depicting the surrender of Roman emperor Valerian to Persian king Shapur, with Shapur on horseback and Valerian kneeling before him.
Khosrow II
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Related Topics and References

Topics
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ancient region, Iran
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ancient kingdom, Iran
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ancient kingdom, Iran
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Media
ancient region, Iran
ruins of the Great Kiz-Kala fortress
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Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.
history of Mesopotamia
historical region, Asia

Key People

Relief of three Achaemenid warriors, known as the Ten Thousand Immortals, depicted in profile on glazed bricks with patterned robes and bows, from the Palace of Artaxerxes at Susa.
Achaemenid Empire
Iranian empire
Ancient rock relief at Naqsh-e Rustam, Iran, depicting the surrender of Roman emperor Valerian to Persian king Shapur, with Shapur on horseback and Valerian kneeling before him.
Sasanian dynasty
Iranian dynasty

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