Whether you have played a Prince of Persia video game, seen the movie, or just heard about it in history class, it is hard to ignore the Persian Empire, which was among the greatest empires of the world for some time.

The typical area for the Persian Empire was what is now Iran. The Persians had a vast influence on surrounding countries and regions. Their style, art, music, rule, and culture has had an influence on the development of science and the forming of nations.

The Achaemenid Empire is well-known for enforcing an effective model of centralized, governmental administration through the usage of satraps; its multicultural policy; the building of road network, like roadways and a postal system; the usage of a main language during its areas; and the development of civil services, and that includes the possession of a big, professional army. The empire's success resulted in the adoption of comparable systems by later empires.

Learn more in this book about this empire of old.