Persia — The Empire That Ruled the World

Most people today know of Rome, Greece, or Egypt—but what about ancient Persia? What was happening beyond the Mediterranean world, in the lands of modern-day Iran, where one of the most powerful empires in history once rose? In this full-length historical documentary, we explore the fascinating story of the Achaemenid Empire, from its humble nomadic origins to its staggering heights under legendary rulers like Cyrus the Great, Darius I, and Xerxes, and finally to its dramatic fall at the hands of Alexander the Great. At its peak, the Persian Empire was the largest the world had ever seen—stretching from the Aegean Sea to the Indus Valley, from the Caucasus Mountains to the deserts of Egypt. Nearly half of the global population lived under its rule. But what made this empire so successful? And how did it all unravel? This is not just a military history. We dive deep into the culture, administration, religion, and daily life of the Persian Empire, offering a balanced and fact‑checked view that goes beyond the biased accounts of ancient Greek writers like Herodotus, Xenophon, and Ctesias. The Persian legacy didn’t end with Alexander. It lived on through the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian empires—and continues to influence the modern world today, from the Persian language to the lingering traditions of Zoroastrianism.