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Iran in the Pre-Islamic period

A HISTORICAL OUTLINE

 
The cradle of civilisation, custodian of priceless treasures disputed throughout the centuries.

The archaeological excavations and findings brought to light on the Iranian plateau date back to a period between 15.000 and 10.000 B.C and confirm that the caves in these mountain ranges were home to prehistoric man.

 

A visit to Choga Zambil is a must for a true archaeological experience:  the Ziggurat built by an Elamite king in the third century B.C is one of the best preserved in Mesopotamia and designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site; Persepolis 516 B.C. ( 60 km away from Shiraz), founded in 518 B.C. by Darius the Great (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site); Naqsh-e-rostam where Darius is buried alongside other Achaemenian kings; a Zoroastrian fire temple and bas-relief dating back to the Sassanid period also cited by Roman historians; Pasargade, where  Cyrus’ tomb is located. Near Apadana (today Hamedan) there are numerous bas-reliefs inscribed in the three languages of that age.

 

Chronology (Glories)

7000 b.c.

 

Abandonment of nomadic way of life in Susiana

5000

3300

First villages, Susiana settlements

3300

3000

Creation of the first urban civilisation (Elam)

and urbanisation

2800

2300

The occupation of the Sumerian kings of Ur

2200

2000

Indo-European migration

2000

1900

The occupation of Ur of the Elamite kings

1270

1240

The Choga Zanbil ziggurat

1200

1100

Iranian migration into the heart of Persia

1100

640

Maximum Elamite expansion

728

550 b.c.

The Medes founded the first Iranian Empire.

559

330 b.c.

The Achaemenids (the largest and longest lasting  Empire in the world, the Zoroastrian religion became the state religion)

330

238 b.c.

the Seleucids, a transitional period after Alexander

230 a.d.

224 a.d.

The Parthians, great resurgence of the Persian empire

224

651 a.d.

the Sassanids triumph over the Roman Empire

 

The subject populations of the Achaemenid Empire

The Medes, the Elamites, the Aryans (Central Persia), the Aracosians (Central Persia), the Egyptians, the Bactrians, the Sagartians (South Eastern Persia), the Armenians, the Babylonians, the Cilicians (Syrians), the Shiites, the Ghandehaar population (Afghanistan), the Sogdians (Uzbeks), the Assyrians, the Cappadocians, the Lydians (Anatolia), the Bactrians (North East Persia), the Indians, the Thracians, the Arabians, dragians (Turkmenistan), the Aethiopes and the Libyans.

 

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