Iran is a land of extraordinary diversity, geographically,
climatically and ethnically. To many Europeans the word Persia is
evocative of beautiful works of art- carpets, tiles, fine ceramics,
miniatures and metal-work. Or they might think of Persian poets such
as Hafez, Saadi or Omar Khayyam, who are often quoted in translation.
Yet these artistic and literary accomplishments all date from the
Islamic era. Much less well known, but no less fascinating, are the
art and history of ancient Persia, or Iran.

Although the very early history of man in Iran goes back well beyond
the Neolithic period, it begins to get more interesting around 6000
BC, when people began to domesticate animals and plant wheat and
barley. The number of settled communities increased, particularly in
the eastern Zagros mountains, and handmade painted pottery appears.
Throughout the prehistoric period, from the middle of the sixth
millennium BC to about 3000 BC, painted pottery is a characteristic
feature of many sites in Iran.

Around the ninth century BC (800's), people began to invade or enter
Iran and caused conflicts among their neighbors. A group called the
Medes first appeared on the historical scene in the ninth century BC,
and were in conflicts with the Assyrians, their powerful neighbor to
the west. Herodotus includes an account of the Medes in his stories.
After the period of the Medes, the Achaemenid period followed around
550 BC, when Cyrus the Great deposed the Median king Astyages. Cyrus
belonged to the ruling house of Persia but also had Median
connections through his mother, whose father was supposedly Astyages.
Cyrus established himself as king of the Medes and the Persians.
Among his ancestors was the legendary king Achaemenes, the founder of
the Achaemenid dynasty. Cyrus later was killed in 530 BC and his son
Cambyses became the next ruler of Persia, followed soon after by a
new man named Darius. According to Herodotus, Darius was a smart
king. He divided his vast empire into twenty provinces, each with its
own province and satrap (governor) to collect taxes and pay annual
tribute. As an admistrator, Darius was brilliant. He died in 486 BC.

Towards the end of Darius' reign, intense struggle with Greece began
which ended the superiority of the Persians. Xerxes, son of Darius,
was king of Persia at this time. In the early part of his reign there
were revolts in Egypt and Babylonia to deal with, but six years later
he was ready to turn his attention toward Greece. Xerxes tried to
attack Athens but all he accomplished was destroying the deserted
city and burning the temples on the Acropolis, while the Athenians
were waiting for him at Salamis. Xerxes believed that in order for
him to gain control of the Peloponnese he would have to win this
battle. The Greek and Persian fleets fought at Salamis, under
Themistocles, in 480 B.C. The Greeks won a convincing victory. Later,
the Achaemenid (Persian) attempt to overrun Greece was ended. In 465
BC, Xerxes was killed in his palace and his successor Artaxerxes
continued building work at Persepolis. It was completed during the
reign of Artaxerxes III, around 338 BC. In 334 BC, Alexander the
Great defeated the Persian armies of the third Darius. He marched
into Iran and, once there, he turned his attention to Persepolis, and
that magnificent complex of buildings was burnt down. This act of
destruction for revenge of the Acropolis, was surprising from one who
prided himself on being a pupil of Aristotle. This was the end of the
Persian Empire.