History Nerd
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2,500 years ago, Persia ruled the world. At its heart stood Persepolis—a city so rich that the Greeks called it paradise on earth. But in one night, it was burned down. This is the story of how Persia built the greatest empire in history—and how it was erased in a single night:
In 515 BC, Darius the Great ordered the construction of a new ceremonial capital—Persepolis. Built on a grand terrace carved into a mountainside, the city was unlike anything the world had seen. Every detail was designed to project Persian power.
- A 15-meter-high artificial platform overlooking the land - Enormous palaces with 20-meter-tall cedar columns - Gold-adorned gates guarded by colossal winged bulls - Walls covered in dazzling textiles and jewel-studded thrones
Greek historians, despite their hatred for Persia, grudgingly admitted that Persepolis was unparalleled in luxury and splendor. The Persians called it "The Richest City Under the Sun." But Persepolis wasn’t just about wealth—it was a statement.
Unlike other conquerors, the Persians ruled through tolerance rather than terror. Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, allowed his subjects to keep their customs, religions, and languages. As long as they paid tribute, they were free.
The Persian Royal Road—a 1,500-mile highway connecting Persepolis to the Mediterranean—allowed trade, culture, and knowledge to flow across the empire. Greek historians marveled at the Persian couriers, who could deliver messages faster than any mortal traveler.
The result? 1. The first multi-ethnic empire in history 2. A flourishing economy powered by trade 3. A sophisticated bureaucracy that managed vast lands with efficiency Persepolis embodied this vision: not just a city, but the heart of an empire built on unity, not oppression.
But its greatness wouldn’t last. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great launched his campaign against Persia. Though vastly outnumbered, his Macedonian army crushed the Persian forces in a series of decisive battles. By 331 BC, the last Persian king, Darius III, was dead.
The empire collapsed. Then Alexander reached Persepolis—the ceremonial heart of the Persian world. What happened next remains one of history’s greatest acts of destruction.
According to Greek sources, a drunken Alexander, urged on by a Greek courtesan, ordered Persepolis to be burned to the ground as revenge for Persia’s past wars with Greece. The city—its palaces, its treasures, its libraries—went up in flames.
- Cedar roofs turned into an inferno - Priceless art and history were reduced to ashes - 200 years of Persian grandeur disappeared overnight Persepolis never recovered.
For 2,000 years, the world ignored Persepolis. History, written by the Greeks and Romans, painted the Persians as cruel, decadent barbarians. Their achievements were overshadowed by the legacy of Alexander.
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