In this introduction to the history of Ancient Persia (and in particular the Empire of the Achaemenid Kings beginning with Cyrus the Great and ending with Darius III), some of the earlier movements of peoples in the Near Eastern regions have been included for context.
The Achaemenid period spans approximately 220 years, from around 550 BC when Cyrus the Great succeeded King Astyages of the Medes as ruler of both Medea and Persia, until around 330 BC when Alexander the Great defeated Darius III and ended Achaemenid rule.
Earlier Periods
c. 3400 BC – Elamite Kingdom begins in South West Iran and Mesopotamia
c. 2000 BC – Nomadic peoples including the Medes, Persians and Scythians migrate from central Asia to Iran
c. 1000 BC – Continuing migrations of nomadic peoples in and around the Near East
c. 628-551 BC – The life of Zoroaster, according to Pahlavi sources
Achaemenid Timeline
553-550 BC – Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) succeeds the Median king Astyages and becomes ruler of Persia and Medea, founding the Achaemenid Empire
547-546 BC – Cyrus conquers Phrygia, Anatolia and Cyprus
539 BC – Cyrus captures Babylon and liberates the Jews from captivity
530 BC – Cyrus dies, Cambyses II (Cyrus’ son) succeeds to the throne
525 BC – Cambyses II conquers Egypt
522 BC – Cambyses II dies, Darius I succeeds to the throne
515 BC – Darius I moves the Persian capital from Pasargadae to Persepolis
499 BC – Ionian Rebellion
492 BC – Darius I decides to invade Greece
490 BC – Darius I defeated at the Battle of Marathon
486 BC – Darius I dies, Xerxes succeeds to the throne
485 BC – Babylon destroyed by Xerxes
480 BC – Battle of Thermopylae, Spartans defeated by Persians
480 BC – Battle of Salamis, Themistocles defeats Xerxes’ fleets
480 BC – Xerxes prepares for invasion, building canals and bridges
480 BC – Sack of Athens
479 BC – Xerxes defeated at Plataea
478 BC – Xerxes builds Gate of All Nations, Palace of Xerxes
449 BC – Peace agreed between Athens and Persia (Peace of Callias)
448 BC – Ionian cities independent from Persia
412 BC – Sparta allies with Persia
401 BC – Xenophon and the Greek mercenaries retreat from Persia
380 BC – Darius III succeeds to the throne
341 BC – Conquest of Egypt by the Persians is completed
336 BC – Artaxerxes III builds the Hall of 32 Columns
334 BC – Alexander the Great invades the Persian Empire
333 BC – Battle of Issus, Darius III Defeated
331 BC – Alexander the Great conquers Egypt
331 BC – Battle of Gaugamela
330 BC – Darius III dies, Alexander the Great conquers Persia and Mesopotamia, Persepolis burned and looted, ending the Achaemenid Empire
323 BC – Alexander the Great dies, empire divided between his generals, beginning the Seleucid Empire