Part 53

Learn about the decline of the Persian Empire in Civilization V, the reign of Darius III, and Alexander the Great's conquest.

The Achaemenian Persian Empire, despite its vastness spanning from India to Egypt and Iran to the Balkans, was characterized by internal weakness and disorganization as the third century BC progressed. Provincial governors (satraps) revolted with increasing frequency, making the position of the king unstable. Artaxerxes III came to the throne in 359 BC through treachery and was later poisoned in 338 BC by the eunuch Bagoas, who then placed Arses in power. Arses' attempt to poison Bagoas failed, leading to his own death and Bagoas elevating Darius III to the throne. Darius III, a former satrap of Armenia, was distantly related to the late king, with most other claimants already deceased.

Darius I, an administrative genius, reorganized the empire, increasing its wealth and power, and initiated construction works. He forcibly took the throne in 522 BC after the death of Cambyses II, suppressing numerous revolts in provinces like Babylon and Susiana. He also expanded Persia's borders through wars, including an attack on the Scythians east of the Caspian Sea in 519 BC and conquering the Indus V shortly after.

However, the empire's decline accelerated. In 359 BC, King Philip of Macedon ascended to the throne and, within 20 years, conquered all of Greece. Following Philip's assassination in 336 BC, Alexander the Great took the Macedonian crown. After securing his throne and suppressing a Greek rebellion, Alexander resumed Philip's invasion into Persia. Alexander, a military genius, led a disciplined Greek army with superior weaponry and tactics, overwhelming Darius III's forces. The Persian capital, Persepolis, fell in 330 BC, and Darius III was murdered the same year, marking the end of the last Achaemenian ruler.

The Achaemenian Persian Empire had survived for approximately 200 years, dominating a vast territory. While its rulers could be lawgivers who treated subjects with clemency, they were also sometimes incompetent and self-serving. The empire's survival might have been extended by another 100 years had they not faced leaders like Alexander the Great and Philip. Alexander's own empire, despite his brilliance, barely survived his death by a year.