Ancient World
Return from Exile: Cyrus's Decree and the Second Temple
Judeans were allowed to return to Jerusalem, the Temple was rebuilt by about 515 BC and Judah survived as a self-governing Persian province.
Era · c. 3000 BC – AD 500
Ancient World
The first cities, empires and written records, from the pyramids of Egypt to Greece and the Roman Empire.
Ancient World
Theatre of Dionysus (c. 534 BC): Birthplace of Greek Tragedy
The theatre became the home of the City Dionysia, where tragedy and comedy took their classical form; it was rebuilt in stone in the 330s–320s BC and remained in use into Roman times.
Ancient World
Death of Cyrus the Great (530 BC) and Queen Tomyris
Cyrus died on campaign; his son Cambyses II succeeded him and the empire remained intact.
Ancient World
Hochdorf Chieftain's Grave: An Untouched Celtic Princely Burial
One of the very few unrobbed Hallstatt princely graves, giving a complete picture of an Early Celtic elite burial.
Ancient World
Pythagoras and His School at Croton (c. 530 BC)
Pythagoras' community became a powerful religious and political brotherhood in Magna Graecia and gave rise to a philosophical tradition that linked mathematics, music and the soul.
Ancient World
Buddha's First Sermon at Sarnath: The Deer Park Discourse
The Buddha's first teaching set out the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path and created the first community of Buddhist monks.
Ancient World
Battle of Pelusium (525 BC): Cambyses II Conquers Egypt
Persian victory; Egypt was conquered and became a province of the Achaemenid Empire.
Ancient World
Darius I Seizes the Persian Throne (522 BC): Gaumata Affair
Darius became king of Persia and, after a year of civil wars, secured control of the whole empire.
Ancient World
Palace of Darius at Susa: Achaemenid Royal Residence
Became one of the main royal residences of the Achaemenid Empire; its glazed-brick friezes are now among the best-known Persian artworks.
Ancient World
Behistun Inscription: Darius the Great and Decoding Cuneiform
Darius I recorded his version of his rise to power in three languages; copied in the 19th century, the text unlocked Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian cuneiform.
Ancient World
Persepolis: Ceremonial Capital of the Achaemenid Persian Kings
Persepolis served as a ceremonial and administrative centre of the Achaemenid kings for nearly two centuries until Alexander the Great looted and burned it in 330 BC.
Ancient World
Daric: The Gold Coin of the Achaemenid Persian Empire
The daric became the standard gold coin of the Persian Empire and a famous tool of Persian diplomacy in the Greek world for nearly two centuries.