Cyrus the Great founds the Achaemenid Empire
Persia defeats Media and builds the era's largest empire
The Persian king Cyrus II overthrew the Median king Astyages and founded the Achaemenid Empire. It soon became the largest empire of its time, from the Aegean to the Indus, known for tolerance and efficient administration.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 6th century BC
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Asia
- c. 563 BC Birth of the Buddha — 13 years earlier
- 551 BC Birth of Confucius — 1 year earlier
Alive at the time
- Cyrus the Great (aged 50)
- Pythagoras (aged 20)
- Gautama Buddha (aged 13)
- Confucius (aged 1)
- Thales of Miletus (aged 74)
- Mahavira (aged 49)
- Darius the Great (aged 0)