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A Chronology of Persian History

From the dawn of history Persia has preserved its individuality while influencing the art, architecture and culture of other countries. This chronology catalogues and compares Iran's colourful history with that of the rest of the world from 4000 BC to modern times.

1. Chronology BC

2. Chronology AD

3. Modern Iran

Chronology BC
IRAN	BC	REST OF THE WORLD
First city built at Susa c. 3900 BC	4000-3500 BC	Bronze Age Sumerians invent the wheel, oars to propel ships and ploughs to till the land. Rise of Egypt
	3500-3000 BC	Sumerians produce first system of writing in the world
	3000-2500 BC	Egyptians develop the Solar calendar and build elaborate tombs - pyramids
Akkad annexes Susa c. 2300 BC Susa becomes part of Elam c. 2200 BC	2500 -2000 BC	Reign of Sargon - founder of the Akkadian Empire Indus civilization in India at its peak Indo-Europeans (Hittites) enter Asia Minor
	2000-1500 BC	Indo-Europeans develop a new war weapon - the chariot Reign of Hammurabi, king of the first Babylonian Empire and the law-codes The rise of Assyria End of Indus civilisation China in the Bronze Age and ruled by the Shang Dynasty
Height of the Elamite Empire 13-12^th centuries BC Destruction of the Kassite Empire of Babylon by Elam 1160 BC	1500-1000 BC	Egyptian Empire at its peak with a population of 3 million Technique for making steel (adding carbon to Iron) controlled by the Hittites - beginning of the Iron Age Israelites enter Canaan Phoenicians develop first successful Alphabet Feudalism in China Trojan Wars (1193-1184 BC)
Median capital established at Ecbatana - 673 BC Assyrian sack of Susa (Elam) under Assurbanipal - 646 BC Fall of the Assyrian Empire with the capture of Nineveh by the Medes - 612 BC First Persian Achaemenian Empire 550-331 BC Reign of Cyrus II the Great 558-529 BC Reign of Darius I 522-486 BC Rebuilding of Susa 521 BC Building of Persepolis started 518 BC	1000-500 BC	Assyria reaches its height and falls The Iliad and Odyssey are written by Homer "Zero" is invented in India Olympic games are established in Greece Phoenicians circumnavigate Africa First Emperor in Japan Rome expels its king and Establishes a Republic
Reign of Xerxes I 486-465 BC Persian defeat at Guagamelus 331 BC Death of Darius III, last Achaemenian ruler 330 BC	500 -250 BC	Greek victory over the Persian army at Marathon - 490 BC Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta - 431 to 404 BC Plato and Aristotle in Athens Reign of Alexander the Great - 336 to 323 BC Hellenistic Kingdoms
Seleucid Dynasty 312-44 BC Parthian Dynasty 250-224 AD Reign of Mithridates I 171-138 BC Parthian victory over Rome at Carrhae 53 BC	250 - 1BC	Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage 264-146 BC Ceaser establishes dictatorship and is assassinated Mark Antony and Cleopatra Octavian (Ceaser's great nephew) establishes the Roman Empire in place of the Republic - 27 BC Herod rules over Judea (died 4 BC) Jesus of Nazareth is born

1. Chronology BC

2. Chronology AD

3. Modern Iran