Persia grew from the rubble of the defeated Assyrian empire. In 612 BC Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, fell. This left Babylon and Media to wrestle over the remains of the empire. In 550 BC the Persian king cyrus defeated the Medes and made himself ruler of a new empire. It was known as the Achaemenid Empire. The Pertians were good fighters with calvary and iron weapons, and their military energy proved their neighbours. The ruins of Persepolis (below), the capital of the Persian Empire, lie near the modern city of Shiraz, in southwest Iran. Part of the ruined palace of Dairus I is still standing.
Fact file
Ten thousand soldiers called the Immortals formed the core of the Persian army. Each spearman or acher was instantly replaced if killed or became sick.
resources: Tell me why (Chancellor Press)
image 1: http://brfencing.org/hist643/Assyria%20%26%20Persia_files/Persian%20Empire.jpg
image 2: https://weaponsandwarfare.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/achaemenid_chariot.jpg
