Achaemenids

Achaemenids , dynasty of ancient Persia. They were descended presumably from one Achaemenes, a minor ruler in a mountainous district of SW Iran. His successors, when Elam declined, spread their power westward. Cyrus the Great established the Persian rule by his conquest of Astyages of Media . The Achaemenids (c.550-330 BC) were important for their development of government administration, the appearance of literature written in cuneiform , and the spread of Zoroastrianism ; during this period there was also a great flourishing of Persian art and architecture . The Achaemenid rulers after Cyrus were Cambyses II, the impostor Smerdis, Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, Xerxes II, Sogdianus, Darius II, Artaxerxes II (opposed by Cyrus the Younger), Artaxerxes III, Arses, and Darius III. The dynasty ended when Darius III died in his flight from Alexander the Great.

Achaemenid a member of the dynasty ruling in Persia from Cyrus I to Darius III (553–330 bc); the name comes from Greek Akhaimenēs ‘Achaemenes’, the reputed ancestor of the dynasty.

Achaemenid Ruling dynasty of the first Persian Empire, which stretched from the River Nile as far e as modern Afghanistan. The dynasty was founded by Cyrus the Great (r.559–529 bc) and named after his ancestor Achaemenes. Darius I (r.521–486 bc) decentralized government administration. The last Achaemenid ruler, Darius III (r.336–330 bc), was defeated by Alexander the Great. The dynasty was responsible for the spread of Zoroastrianism through Asia, and the remains at Persepolis are testimony to the splendour of Persian art and architecture at this time.