A richly-illustrated and important book that traces the rise and fall of one of the ancient world's largest and richest empires.

Out of a lifetime of study of the ancient Near East, Professor Olmstead has gathered previously unknown material into the story of the life, times, and thought

"The empires of ancient Persia: the history and legacy of hte Achaemenids, Parthians, and Sassanids in antiquity looks at the three major empires, their importa

A free ebook version of this title is available through Luminos, University of California Press’s new open access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org

An innovative approach to the history of the First Persian Empire, offering an accessible historical narrative for students and general readers alike A History