550–330 BCE · From Persia to the Ancient World
Empire of the
King of Kings
Journey through the rulers, royal cities and far-reaching networks of one of antiquity’s most ambitious empires.
A Digital History Experience
One empire.
Many stories.
From Cyrus’s rise in Persia to the monumental terraces of Persepolis, each chapter opens a different view onto the ancient world.
Follow a chronological narrative or move directly into the people, places and ideas that held the empire together.
Start at the beginning →Choose a Chapter
Explore the imperial world.
Each subject now has its own page, giving the collection the pace and depth of a historical publication.
Rise & Fall
The Story
Trace two centuries of conquest, reform and dynastic change.
Enter chapter →Royal House
The Great Kings
Meet Cyrus, Darius and Xerxes through their reigns and monuments.
Meet the rulers →Aegean to Indus
The Empire
Explore satrapies, roads and the systems connecting three continents.
View the realm →Seats of Power
Great Cities
Visit Persepolis, Susa and Pasargadae.
Tour the capitals →Beyond 330 BCE
The Legacy
See how Persian ideas of rule, art and communication endured.
Discover the legacy →
Begin with the Founder
Meet Cyrus the Great.
Discover the king whose victories transformed Persia into an imperial power.
Read Cyrus’s story