Cyrus defeats Astyages and captures Ecbatana (Hagmatana). Persia and Media are unified.
550–330 BCE: Achaemenid Empire
559/558–530 BCE
Cyrus II (Kurush) the Great rules.
547/546 BCE
Cyrus defeats Croesus, the king of Lydia, and captures the Lydian capital, Sardis. Asia Minor becomes part of Cyrus’s empire.
545–540 BCE
Cyrus is in Central Asia.
539 BCE
Cyrus captures Babylon, liberates the Jews, and allows them to return to Jerusalem and build their temple.
537 BCE
Forty thousand Jews return to Jerusalem.
530 BCE
Cyrus is killed in battle with Scythian tribes in Central Asia. Cambyses becomes king of the Persian Empire.
530–522 BCE
Cambyses II (Kambujiya II) rules.
525 BCE
Cambyses II conquers Egypt.
522 BCE
Bardiya/Gaumata revolts against Cambyses II.
Cambyses dies in Syria.
522–486 BCE
Darius I (Daryavaush I) rules.
521 BCE
Darius and six fellow Persian officers kill Gaumata.
521–519 BCE
Darius I suppresses rebellions against his rule.
518 BCE
Persepolis is established as one of the capitals of the Persian Empire.
517 BCE
Darius I is in Egypt.
516 BCE
Darius I embarks on a naval mission to India.
515–514 BCE
Darius I conquers the Indus River Valley.
514 BCE
Darius I defeats the Scythian tribes north of the Black Sea.
512–511 BCE
Persian armies conquer Thrace.
510 BCE
Darius’s campaign against the European Scythians takes place.
508 BCE
The First Athenian Embassy assembles.
506 BCE
The Second Athenian Embassy assembles.
499–493 BCE
Ionian Greeks revolt against the Persian Achaemenid Empire.
498 BCE
The Ionians burn Sardis with support from Athens and Eretria.
494 BCE
Ionian rebels are defeated.
493 BCE
Thrace is recovered.
492 BCE
Persian commander Mardonius captures Macedonia.
490 BCE
Persians capture Cyclades and Eretria on the island of Euboea.
In the Battle of Marathon, the Persian fleet is defeated by the Greeks.
486 BCE
A revolt erupts in Egypt.
Darius I dies.
486–465 BCE
Xerxes I (Khshayarsha I) rules.
485 BCE
Xerxes suppresses the revolt in Egypt.
484 BCE
Xerxes suppresses the revolt in Babylon.
481 BCE
Xerxes arrives in Sardis.
480 BCE
Xerxes invades Greece.
The Battle of Thermopylae is fought.
Xerxes captures Athens.
A Persian fleet is defeated in the Battle of Salamis.
Xerxes returns to Sardis.
Persian commander Mardonius remains in Thessaly.
479 BCE
Athens is reoccupied.
Persian troops are defeated in the Battle of Plataea and the Battle of Mycale.
A revolt erupts in Babylon.
Xerxes leaves Sardis.
472 BCE
Aeschylus stages The Persians.
465 BCE
Xerxes is murdered and is succeeded by Artaxerxes I.
465–424 BCE
460 BCE
Athens sends a naval expedition in support of rebels in Egypt.
460–454 BCE
Egypt revolts.
455/454 BCE
The revolt in Egypt is suppressed. The Athenian forces in Egypt are defeated by a Persian army.
449 BCE
Athens sends a delegation to negotiate peace with Artaxerxes I.
The Peace of Callias between the Persian Empire and Athens ends the Persian Wars.
441 BCE
The temple and walls of Jerusalem and Judaea are rebuilt with support from Artaxerxes I.
431–404 BCE
The Peloponnesian War between Athenian and Spartan alliances occurs.
424–423 BCE
Xerxes II rules.
423 BCE
Xerxes II is murdered.
Sogdianos (Sogdian) rules for six and a half months before being defeated by Arses (Darius II).
423–404 BCE
Darius II rules.
416 BCE
The revolt of Pissouthnes, the Persian-appointed governor of Sardis, breaks out.
414–412 BCE
Amorgos, the son of Pissouthness, continues his father’s revolt in western Asia Minor.
Athens supports the revolt of Amorgos. Darius II throws his support behind Sparta.
413 BCE
An Athenian fleet is destroyed by Sparta.
409/408 BCE
The revolt in Media is suppressed.
404 BCE
Egypt revolts and breaks away from the Persian Empire.
404–359 BCE
Artaxerxes II becomes the ruler of the Persian Empire.
402/401 BCE
Cyrus the Younger revolts against his brother, Artaxerxes II.
401 BCE
Cyrus the Younger is defeated and killed in the Battle of Cunaxa.
Ten thousand defeated Greek mercenaries return home after the Battle of Cunaxa.
394 BCE
Persian forces and their Greek allies destroy a Spartan fleet in the Battle of Cnidus.
387 BCE
The Peace of Antalcidas, or King’s Peace, dictated by the Persian king to Greeks ends the Corinthian War.
362 BCE
The Revolt of Satraps erupts.
359 BCE
Philip II becomes the king of Macedonia.
359–338 BCE
Artaxerxes III rules.
343–342 BCE
The Persian reconquest of Egypt is completed.
338 BCE
Artaxerxes III is poisoned.
Macedonia defeats the Greeks in the Battle of Chaeronea.
338–336 BCE
Arses rules.
336 BCE
Philip II of Macedon is assassinated.
336–330 BCE
Darius III rules.
333 BCE
Alexander of Macedon defeats Darius III in the Battle of Issus in southern Anatolia in present-day Turkey.
331 BCE
Alexander defeats Darius III at Gaugamela (Arbela) in northern Mesopotamia.
330 BCE
The Persian capital of Persepolis is burned by Alexander.
Darius III is murdered. The Achaemenid dynasty ends.
327 BCE
Alexander arrives in India.
323 BCE
Alexander dies.
323–301 BCE
Wars erupt among Alexander’s army commanders.
305–64 BCE: Seleucid Empire
312 BCE
Seleucus I captures Babylon and the Seleucid state is founded.
305–302 BCE
Seleucus I imposes his rule on Iran.
305–281 BCE
Seleucus I rules.
305 BCE
Seleucia-on-Tigris is founded by Seleucus I.
Seleucus I consolidates his rule over eastern Iran.
301 BCE
Seleucus I and Lysimachus defeat Antigonus at Ipsus.
300 BCE
292 BCE
Seleucus I designates his son Antiochus as co-regent.
281 BCE
Seleucus I defeats Lysimachus and seizes Asia Minor
.
Seleucus I is murdered.
281–261 BCE
Antiochus I Soter, the son of Seleucus I, rules.
280–279 BCE
War breaks out between Antiochus I and Ptolemy II of Egypt.
278 BCE
The Celts invade Asia Minor from Macedonia.
275 BCE
Antiochus I defeats the Celts.
274–271 BCE
War erupts between Antiochus I and Ptolemy II.
261–246 BCE
Antiochus II, son of Antiochus I, rules.
260 BCE
The Cappadocian kingdom is founded by the Persian Ariarathes.
260–253 BCE
War breaks out between Antiochus II and Ptolemy II of Egypt.
252 BCE
Antiochus II divorces his wife, Laodice, and marries Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy and sister of Ptolemy III.
247 BCE
The Arsacid (Parthian) state is founded by Arsaces I (Arshak).
247/246 BCE
Diodotus, governor of Bactria centered in present-day northern Afghanistan, revolts and declares his independence.
246 BCE
Antiochus II dies. Civil war breaks out between the wives of Antiochus II, Laodice and Berenice.
Ptolemy III is proclaimed the ruler of Egypt.
246–225 BCE
Seleucus II, son of Antiochus II, rules.
245 BCE
Ptolemy III invades and occupies Syria and Mesopotamia.
Ptolemy III withdraws from Syria and Mesopotamia.
241 BCE
Peace is established between Seleucus II and Ptolemy III of Egypt.
240 BCE
War breaks out between Seleucus II and his brother Antiochus Hierax.
239 BCE
Seleucus II is defeated by his brother Antiochus Hierax.
Andragoras, the satrap of Parthia, proclaims independence.
238 BCE
Antiochus Hierax is defeated by Attalus I of Perganum.
Attalus I of Perganum is proclaimed king.
Arsaces I, founder of the Arsacid/Parthian state, defeats Andragoras and captures Parthia.
237 BCE
Peace is established between Seleucus II and Antiochus Hierax.
Antiochus Hierax is defeated.
228 BCE
Seleucus II invades Iran to suppress the Arsacids/Parthians.
225–223 BCE
Seleucus III rules.
223–187 BCE
Antiochus III rules.
221–217 BCE
War erupts between Antiochus III and Ptolemy IV of Egypt.
220 BCE
Antiochus III defeats Molon, the viceroy of Mesopotamia and Iran.
217 BCE
Ptolemy III defeats Antiochus III at Eaphia.
Arsaces II ascends the throne.
216–213 BCE
War breaks out between Antiochus III and Achaeus, his viceroy in Asia Minor.
209 BCE
The Arsacids (Parthians) sue for peace with Antiochus III.
209–205 BCE
Antiochus III embarks on a campaign to reimpose Seleucid sovereignty over eastern Iran.
206 BCE
Antiochus manages to temporarily restore Seleucid rule in eastern Iran.
200–198 BCE
Antiochus III defeats Ptolemy V of Egypt and conquers Phoenicia and Palestine.
192–188 BCE
Antiochus III fights Rome.
191 BCE
Phriapatius ascends the Arsacid/Parthian throne.
190 BCE
Antiochus III is defeated by Rome.
188 BCE
Antiochus III signs a peace treaty with Rome. Antiochus III loses Asia Minor.
187 BCE
Antiochus III dies.
187–175 BCE
Seleucus IV, son of Antiochus III, rules.
175–164 BCE
Antiochus IV, brother of Seleucus IV, rules.
171 BCE
The Arsacid/Parthian monarch Mithridates I ascends the throne.
164 BCE
Antiochus IV dies.
164–162 BCE
Antiochus V rules.
162–150 BCE
Demetrius I rules.
150 BCE
With support from Egypt, Alexander Balas defeats Demetrius I.
150–145 BCE
Alexander Balas rules.
148/147 BCE
The Arsacid monarch Mithridates I captures Media.
145 BCE
War breaks out between Antiochus VI, supported by General Tryphon, and Demetrius II, supported by Egypt.
145–142 BCE
Antiochus VI rules.
145–141 BCE
Demetrius II rules.
141 BCE
Mithridates I enters Mesopotamia and seizes Seleucia.
Demetrius II attacks the Arsacid state.
Demetrius II is defeated and imprisoned by the Arsacid king Mithridates I.
141–126 BCE
The Arsacids/Parthians conquer western Iran and Mesopotamia.
138–129 BCE
Antiochus VII Sidetes, brother of Demetrius II, rules.
129 BCE
Antiochus VII is defeated and killed by the Arasacid monarch Phraates II. Seleucid rule in Iran ends.
247 BCE–224 CE: Arsacid (Parthian) Empire
247 BCE
The Parthian era begins.
238 BCE
Arsaces I captures Parthia.
230–228 BCE
Arsaces defends his kingdom against Seleucus II.
217–191 BCE
Arsaces II rules.
209 BCE
The eastern campaign of Antiochus III begins.
Parthians sue for peace with Antiochus III.
191–176 BCE
Phriapatius rules.
176–171 BCE
Phraates I (Frahata I) rules. Parthian territory extends to the eastern borders of Media.
175 BCE
Antiochus IV Epiphanes seizes the Seleucid throne at Antioch.
171–139/138 BCE
Mithridates I (Mithradata I) rules.
148/147 BCE
Mithridates I conquers Media in western Iran.
141 BCE
Mithridates I captures Seleucia.
Parthians occupy Susa in southwestern Iran.
Parthians defeat and imprison the Seleucid king Demetrius II.
139/138 BCE
Mithridates I dies and is succeeded by Phraates II.
139/138–128 BCE
Phraates II rules.
130 BCE
Kushans rule Bactria in present-day northern Afghanistan.
129 BCE
The Seleucid king Antiochus VII Sidetes is defeated by the Arsacid (Parthian) king, Phraates II.
128 BCE
Scythian tribes invade Parthian territory from Central Asia.
Phraates II is killed in a battle with Scythians.
128–124/123 BCE
Artabanus I (Ardavan I) rules.
124/123 BCE
Artabanus I dies in battle against the Tochari from Central Asia.
124/123–88/87 BCE
Mithridates II rules.
Mithridates II captures Babylonia.
Mithridates II occupies Armenia.
Mithridates II imposes Arsacid (Parthian) rule over Scythians in Sistan (eastern Iran).
Arsacid (Parthian) rule is extended to southern Afghanistan.
120 BCE
The empire of Mithridates of Pontus emerges.
120–90 BCE
Mithridates of Pontus allies himself with Rome.
100–91 BCE
Mithridates of Pontus attacks Roman-held territories in Asia Minor.