Persian Empire, Ancient

Last update: 02 Jun 2026 10:31
First version: 6 January 2016

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Mostly that of the Achaemanids, though the later pre-Islamic ones (Parthians and Sassanians) are also of some interest to me.

See also:
• Afghanistan
• Central Asia
• Classical Era, Global
• Classical Era, Mediterranean

Recommended:
• Lindsay Allan, The Persian Empire
• John W. Lee, The Persian Empire

To read:
• Christopher Beckwith, The Scythian Empire: Central Eurasia and the Birth of the Classical Age from Persia to China
• John Boardman, Persia and The West: An Archaeological Investigation of the Genesis of Achaemenid Persian Art
• J. E. Curtis and N. Tallis (eds.), Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia
• John Curtis and & St John Simpson (eds.), World of Achaemenid Persia: The Diversity of Ancient Iran
• V. S. Curtis and S. Stewart (eds.), Birth of the Persian Empire
• Richard N. Frye, The Golden Age of Persia
• Lori Khatchadourian, Imperial Matter: Ancient Persia and the Archaeology of Empires
• Bruce Lincoln, Religion, Empire, and Torture: The Case of Achaemenian Persia, with a Postscript on Abu Ghraib
• Margaret Christina Miller, Athens and Persia in the Fifth Century BC: A Study in Cultural Receptivity
• A. T. Olmstead, History of the Persian Empire [I need to finish this one of these years so I can actually move it to "recommended"]
• Nikolaus Leo Overtoom, Reign of Arrows: The Rise of the Parthian Empire in the Hellenistic Middle East
• Edith Porada, The Art of Ancient Iran: Pre-Islamic Cultures
• Matt Waters, King of the World: The Life of Cyrus the Great
• Josef Wiesehfer, Ancient Persia: From 550 BC to 650 AD