the Egyptian Kharga oasis. One problem is that several sites, known to have been
very important in the Persian period, are covered by extensive modern towns, which
hampers excavation. This is true of Arbela (modern Erbil in North Iraq), Damascus
and Hamadan (ancient Ecbatana). In Babylonia, the long-occupied sites of old cities,
many of which continued to exist for centuries afterwards, such as Babylon, Uruk
and Sippar, make isolating and defining the Achaemenid period levels problematical.
Surveys in the region suggest a general trend of increased settlement through the
first millennium, although some sites, such as Ur, declined because the Euphrates
shifted its course.
THE FORMATION OF THE EMPIREThe empire was created through a series of conquests beginning with Cyrus II (‘the
Great’) of Persia who, in 550 BC, defeated the ruler of the Medes to the north, who
had attacked the Persians, probably as part of his drive towards territorial expansion.
With this defeat the territory over which the Medes claimed control (the western
part of the Iranian plateau, Armenia, and Anatolia up to the Lydian frontier) came
under Persian domination and their capital Ecbatana with its treasury fell into Persian
— Amélie Kuhrt —Figure 39. 1 Drawing of part of a panel from Persepolis, showing Babylonians bringing gifts
(Tessa Rickards).