Achaemenid Persian control of Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean trade routes (c. 550–330 BCE)

1. Cyrus II founds the Achaemenid Empire

   Jan 1, 550 BCELabels: Cyrus II, Achaemenid Empire

   • Britannica
   • Iranica Commerce

2. Achaemenid rule reaches the Indus frontier

   Jan 1, 535 BCELabels: Indus frontier, Achaemenid administration

   • Britannica India
   • Iranica Commerce

3. Cambyses II conquers Egypt, expanding Red Sea access

   May 1, 525 BCELabels: Cambyses II, Egypt conquest

   • Britannica Egypt
   • Wiki Egypt

4. Darius completes canal link between Nile and Red Sea

   Jan 1, 520 BCELabels: Darius I, Nile Red

   • Suez Stelae
   • Iranica Commerce

5. Darius I consolidates rule and records imperial provinces

   Jan 1, 518 BCELabels: Darius I, Imperial provinces

   • Iranica Commerce
   • Britannica India

6. Hindush (Indus region) incorporated into Achaemenid rule

   Jan 1, 518 BCELabels: Hindush, Indus region

   • EBSCO Darius
   • Wiki Indus

7. Scylax explores the Indus-to-Red Sea sea route

   Jan 1, 515 BCELabels: Scylax of, Maritime exploration

   • EBSCO Scylax
   • Wiki Scylax

8. Persepolis archives show organized imperial provisioning

   Jan 1, 509 BCELabels: Persepolis archive, Imperial provisioning

   • Iranica Docs
   • PFT Overview

9. Persian Gulf ports act as hubs for maritime commerce

   Jan 1, 500 BCELabels: Persian Gulf, Maritime hubs

   • Iranica Commerce
   • Iranica Maritime

10. Alexander defeats Darius III at Gaugamela

    Oct 1, 331 BCELabels: Alexander the, Battle of

    • Wiki Gaugamela
    • Iranica Susa

11. Susa surrenders, opening Achaemenid wealth to Macedon

    Dec 1, 331 BCELabels: Susa, Macedonian takeover

    • Iranica Susa
    • Wiki Chronology

12. Persepolis falls; Achaemenid control of Gulf routes collapses

    Jan 1, 330 BCELabels: Persepolis, Achaemenid collapse

    • Wiki Chronology
    • Iranica Susa