Middle East thumb|right|270px|The First Persian Empire at its greatest extent, c. 500 BC The Achaemenid dynasty of the Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great, ruled an area from Greece and Turkey to the Indus River and Central Asia during the 6th to 4th centuries BC. Persian politics included a tolerance for other cultures, a highly centralized government, and significant infrastructure developments. Later, in Darius the Great's rule, the territories were integrated, a bureaucracy was developed, nobility were assigned military positions, tax collection was carefully organized, and spies were used to ensure the loyalty of regional officials. The primary religion of Persia at this time was Zoroastrianism, developed by the philosopher Zoroaster. It introduced an early form of monotheism to the area. The religion banned animal sacrifice and the use of intoxicants in rituals; and introduced the concept of spiritual salvation through personal moral action, an end time, and both general and Particular judgment with a heaven or hell. These concepts would heavily influence later emperors and the masses. It was itself heavily influenced by earlier much older ancient religious beliefs and practices dating to the beginning of known history and before. The Persian Empire was successful in establishing peace and stability throughout the Middle East and were a major influence in art, politics (affecting Hellenistic leaders), and religion.
middle EasT thumb|rIght|270px|ThE fIrst persIAN eMpIRe aT itS greATEst EXTEnt, c. 500 bC The aCHaeMeniD DynAstY of thE perSIan EMpire, founDEd By CyrUs the greAT, ruled an areA froM grEEce and TurkEY tO the inDus rIVer anD ceNtrAl asia DurinG THe 6Th tO 4th centUrIEs bc. pErsiaN pOlitiCs INcLUDed A toLeraNCe foR oTher CultUrES, a highLY centralIzeD gOverNmeNT, And siGniFicaNt inFraStructUrE deVElopMEnTs. LaTer, in dariUs the Great's rUlE, The tERritories weRE iNtegrateD, A bUrEaUCracy was deVeLOped, nobILity werE asSiGnEd milItaRY posItions, tAx coLleCtiON wAS cArEfuLly orGAnizeD, aNd SPiEs werE Used tO ensure thE lOyalTy of reGionAl OfFicials. THe primaRY religion Of peRsIa At thIs Time wAs zoroaSTrianISM, dEVelopEd By The phiLosopHer zoRoaSter. iT INtRoduCed aN eARly form of monotHeIsM to the AreA. tHe rEliGioN BAnnED aNimaL sacriFicE And ThE USe of intoxiCantS in riTUALs; and iNTRoDuCed The coNCEPt of spirITuaL salVAtion thROugh persOnaL MoRal actIon, an enD TiMe, AnD BOtH GENeRaL aNd PaRTIcular JUDgment wItH A heaVeN or hEll. These conceptS wouLd hEavIly iNfLUence laTeR empEROrs anD thE massES. iT was itself heavilY InFluenced by earlIer mUcH older AnCiEnt reliGIoUS BeliEFS aNd PracTices dAtinG tO the BEGinning oF knowN HIstory aNd BefOre. the perSIaN EmpiRE was sUcCesSfUL in EStAblishiNg peAcE And StabilitY ThrouGHOuT thE MiddlE east aND wEre a major iNFluenCe in art, politIcs (aFfecting helleNIstic leAdeRS), aNd religion.