= Legacy = (8)

Explore the Persian legacy in Age of Empires IV, from the Greco-Persian Wars to Cyrus the Great's tolerance and cultural diffusion.

The Persians are primarily remembered in the West as antagonists in the dramatic Greco-Persian Wars. Famous events from this era include the bridging of the Hellespont, land battles at Marathon, Thermopylae, and Platea, the naval battle at Salamis, and the sacking of Athens. It is important to note that much of this history is biased due to the prevalence of Greek accounts.

In several Biblical accounts, the Persians are recognized for the tolerance of their later courts. Cyrus the Great is particularly remembered for freeing the Hebrews imprisoned in Babylon upon his conquest of the city, allowing them to return to Israel.

The greatest legacy of the Persians was their aggression and the mixture of Asian and African cultures. Many of the advancements in civilization up to that point originated from these regions. This cultural inheritance was preserved by the Persians and subsequently passed on to the Greeks, and then to Europe and the West.