King of kings

The ancient Persian (Achaemenid) Empire in miniature

- Gary Emery

They say history is written by the victors. That is perhaps why we know less about those ancient civilisations that were conquered, destroyed and subjugated by the ancient power houses of Egypt, Greece and Rome. For example, the Hittite, Celtic and Carthaginian civilisations are less well known to historians after these peoples were conquered and their past histories cast aside. This would also be true of one of the greatest ancient civilisations to have existed, the Persian, also known as the Achaemenid, Empire.

A hotchpot of different peoples was incorporated into one of the mightiest Empires the ancient world had seen stretching from India in the east, west to the Balkans and south through the Middle East and on into the sands of Egypt. It grew rapidly infusing a rich culture centred in present day Iran and, unlike other empires, granted religious and cultural freedoms to those peoples within its borders. Local governors or satraps ruled semi-autonomous regions on behalf of the ruler known as the King of Kings. Wealth in terms of riches from taxes and trade ensured the empire flourished with opulent cities filled with exquisite treasures and art. An unrivalled administrative system, roads connecting the vast lands of the Empire and a postal service ensuring effective communication were all traits of this great civilisation. Unlike any previous empire it truly connected east with west as trade routes were protected and flourished while innovative irrigation systems brought once barren lands into fertile abundance.