The Persian Empire

The Persian Empire, also called the Achaemenid Empire, began about 2,500 years ago. It was started by a king named Cyrus the Great. At its biggest, the empire stretched from Egypt all the way to India. It was the largest empire the world had ever seen at that time. Persia is now known as Iran.

Cyrus the Great

Cyrus was the founder of the Persian Empire. He was known for being kind to the people he ruled. He let them keep their own religions and languages. He even freed people who had been held as slaves in Babylon. Many remember him as one of the first leaders to treat people fairly.

Roads and Cities

The Persians built long roads across their empire. The longest was called the Royal Road. Messengers on horses could travel it quickly to carry news. The Persians also built a beautiful capital city called Persepolis. It had huge palaces with tall stone columns and carvings of kings and soldiers.

Fun Facts

• The Persians invented a form of refrigerator called a yakhchal to store ice.
• They had one of the first postal systems in the world.
• Persian gardens were famous for being full of flowers and fountains.

Did You Know?

The word 'paradise' comes from an old Persian word for a beautiful, walled garden.