The ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
Darius I began building Persepolis around 518 BCE as a ceremonial capital. Its staircases are carved with delegations from across the empire bringing gifts to the king. Alexander the Great’s army burned the palaces in 330 BCE.
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Iraq · height in the 6th c. BCE
One of the most famous cities of the ancient world, on the Euphrates south of Baghdad.
Pakistan · c. 2500 BCE
The planned city of the Indus — grid streets, covered drains, a great bath, and no palace in sight.
Pakistan · c. 3300–1300 BCE
The first Indus city to be excavated — and the reason the whole civilization is often called “Harappan”.
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