Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BCE)

1. Cyrus overthrows the Median king Astyages

   Jan 1, 550 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Astyages, Media

   • Britannica
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2. Cyrus captures Sardis and annexes Lydia

   Jan 1, 546 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Lydia, Sardis

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3. Cyrus conquers Babylon

   Oct 1, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Babylon, Mesopotamia

   • British Museum
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4. Cyrus Cylinder produced after Babylon’s conquest

   Nov 1, 539 BCELabels: Cyrus Cylinder, Babylon, Akkadian inscription

   • British Museum

5. Cambyses II conquers Egypt

   Jan 1, 525 BCELabels: Cambyses II, Egypt, Achaemenid Egypt

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6. Darius I takes the throne after a succession crisis

   Jan 1, 521 BCELabels: Darius I, Cambyses II, Succession crisis

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7. Behistun Inscription commissioned by Darius I

   Jan 1, 520 BCELabels: Behistun Inscription, Darius I, Bisotun

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8. Construction begins at Persepolis under Darius I

   Jan 1, 518 BCELabels: Persepolis, Darius I, Royal capital

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9. Ionian Revolt challenges Persian rule in western Anatolia

   Jan 1, 499 BCELabels: Ionian Revolt, Ionia, Greek cities

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10. Achaemenid forces defeated at Marathon

    Sep 1, 490 BCELabels: Battle of, Athens, Plataeans

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11. Xerxes invades Greece; Thermopylae and Salamis

    Sep 1, 480 BCELabels: Xerxes I, Thermopylae, Salamis

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12. Greek victory at Plataea ends the invasion threat

    Jul 1, 479 BCELabels: Battle of, Greek alliance, Persia

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13. Peace of Callias marks a later Greco-Persian settlement

    Jan 1, 449 BCELabels: Peace of, Athens, Persia

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14. Alexander defeats Darius III at Issus

    Nov 5, 333 BCELabels: Alexander the, Darius III, Issus

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15. Alexander’s victory at Gaugamela breaks Achaemenid power

    Oct 1, 331 BCELabels: Alexander the, Gaugamela, Darius III

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16. Persepolis plundered and palace burned

    Jan 1, 330 BCELabels: Persepolis, Alexander the, Palace burn

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    • UNESCO

17. Darius III killed during flight; Achaemenid rule ends

    Jul 1, 330 BCELabels: Darius III, Achaemenid dynasty, Death of

    • Britannica