From the 9th century BC there were The Medes and The Persians.

The Medes ruled and their capital was Ecbatana, today called Hamadan.

Cyrus the great became king of Persia in 559BC. He fought against The Medes.

Cyrus eventually captured the capital Ecbatana then Sardis whose king was Croesus. Croesus was famous for his riches.

Cyrus then took control of Greek Ionia.

Cyrus became Cyrus the great when he took Babylon and Mesopatamia.

Then came Darius the great.

Darius introduced taxes and also built roads. He created a real society.