Rise

Long ago, a powerful empire called Persian Empire began to rise. The Persians started as nomads, which means they moved from place to place. They were amazing horse riders and archers, and children learned to ride from a very young age. This made Persian soldiers fast, brave, and skilled in battle.

A great leader named Cyrus the Great united the Persian people. First, he defeated the Medes, bringing many Persian tribes together. Then Cyrus marched west and conquered Lydia, which included Miletus, one of the richest Greek cities in the world.

Next, Cyrus captured Babylon, the greatest and most famous city of its time. Instead of destroying Babylon, Cyrus treated the people kindly. He allowed them to keep their language, religion, and customs. He also allowed the Jewish people who had been taken from their homeland to return to Jerusalem, which made him famous as a fair and caring ruler.

Even though he became emperor, Cyrus still wore the simple clothing of his nomadic past to honor where he came from. Many legends surround his life. Some stories say his birth was kept secret to protect him, and stories about his death say he died fighting a fierce Scythian queen, who wanted revenge for her people.

Because of Cyrus’s bravery, kindness, and smart leadership, Persia grew into one of the largest and strongest empires the world had ever seen, stretching from Greece to Egypt to India.