Poster for The Persian Empire

2012 - 2024 1 season 24 eps Ended

The Persian Empire

2012 - 2024 1 season 24 eps

Season 1

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Specials

Season 1

30 min

S1 · E1 · Jan 1, 2012

Rethinking the Persian Empire Episode 1

Cyrus. Darius. Xerxes. These great Persian kings were sometimes stereotyped as one-dimensional despots in Greek histories. But through modern history detective work, you’ll uncover the truth about the Achaemenid Persian Empire—an “empire of information” that stretched from Egypt and Asia Minor, through Mesopotamia and Iran, all the way to the Indus Valley.

S1 · E2

Questioning the Sources Episode 2

soon

S1 · E3

The World before Cyrus Episode 3

soon

S1 · E4

Cyrus and Cambyses: Founders of the Empire Episode 4

soon

30 min

S1 · E5 · Dec 13, 2024

Darius I: Creator of the Imperial System Episode 5

Witness the first challenge to the new empire: Was Darius, the son-in-law of Cyrus, a legitimate king? After Cambyses died, and in the face of civil war, Darius established himself as a swift, decisive, unwavering leader. See how Darius created both a royal genealogy and a Persian identity, after which he turned to building infrastructure.

S1 · E6

Persian Capitals and Royal Palaces Episode 6

soon

S1 · E7

The Great King: Images and Realities Episode 7

soon

S1 · E8

Royal Roads and Provinces Episode 8

soon

S1 · E9

East of Persepolis Episode 9

soon

30 min

S1 · E10 · Dec 13, 2024

Challenges in the West, 513-494 B.C. Episode 10

Revolts in Ionia and Cyprus and an attack by the Athenians show the limits of the Persian philosophy of harmonious cooperation—not everyone was content under Persian rule. Explore the early challenges to Persian power and see how Darius contained these threats using diplomacy, military force, and strategic communication.

S1 · E11

Across the Bitter Sea, 493-490 B.C. Episode 11

soon

S1 · E12

Xerxes Becomes King Episode 12

soon

S1 · E13

Xerxes's War, 480-479 B.C. Episode 13

soon

S1 · E14

Cultures in Contact Episode 14

soon

S1 · E15

Achaemenid Religion Episode 15

soon

S1 · E16

From Expansion to Stability, 479-405 B.C. Episode 16

soon

S1 · E17

The War of the Two Brothers Episode 17

soon

S1 · E18

Persian Gold Episode 18

soon

S1 · E19

City and Countryside Episode 19

soon

S1 · E20

Women in the Persian Empire Episode 20

soon

S1 · E21

Artaxerxes II: The Longest-Ruling King Episode 21

soon

S1 · E22

Persia and Macedon, 359-333 B.C. Episode 22

soon

S1 · E23

The End of an Empire, 333-323 B.C. Episode 23

soon

S1 · E24

Legacies of the Persian Empire Episode 24

soon

24 episodes in Season 1

Some details come from TheTVDB.

What do we know about the Persian Empire? For most of the past 2,500 years, we've heard about it from the ancient Greek perspective: a decadent civilization run by despots, the villains who lost the Battle of Marathon and supplied the fodder for bad guys in literature and film. But is this image really accurate?

Documentary History

Where to watch

Not streaming anywhere

Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.

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Total runtime 12h 0m · Episode length 30 min · Country United States

Show info

Premiered

January 1, 2012

Final episode

December 13, 2024

Status

Ended

Country

United States

Episode length

30 min

Total runtime

12h 0m

Original language

English

Production

T

The Great Courses

Production

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