Dynasties+and+Empires

-Cyrus the Great enlarge Median Empire by capturing kingdom of Lydia around 545 B.C. -Slowly took in Greek colonies in Iona in Western Asia Minor -Named after Cyrus' ancestor Achaemenes
 * •Achaemenid Empire**

Yellow=Achaemenid Empire

-Started by General Selecus after Alexander the Great's death -Dynasty that ruled Persia -General Selecus introduced Greek culture and founded cities -250 B.C. Parthians won control of Persia
 * •Seleucid Dynasty:**

Green=Seleucid Dynasty

-Large empire built across Eastern Asia Minor and Southwest Asia. -During last 200 years of rule, Parthians fought Romans in the west and Kushans in Afghanistan. -There became civil wars in Empire. -Ardashir, a Persian, overthrew Parthians and seized empire. -Parthian empire lasted until 224 A.D. -After more than 550 years under other rulers, Persians again ruled Persia Green=Parthian Empire
 * •Parthian Empire**

-Sasan ruled Persia until mid-600s -Roman/Persian wars continued -When Romans adopted christianity in 300s, conflict became a religous struggle between christianity and the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism -In 500s, Persians reached a highpoint and won victories over Romans and re-gained land of Achaemenid Empire -Persian army advanced walls of Constantinople, capital of Byzantine Empire, but were defeated and forced to clear all conquered land. -Rise of Islam (religion in Arabia) brought end to dynasty in the mid-600s. Arabs invaded Persia in 637 B.C. -Islam spread among Persians -New Islamic rulers kept much of Persian culture, art, architecture, and organization -Reign laster from 224 to 651
 * •Sasanian Dynasty**

Yellow=Sasanian Dynasty


 * Sasanian Relief Rocks:**