Copper is extracted from ore by smelting at various sites in Iran

The Iranian prophet Zoroaster teaches that there is one god, Ahura Mazda

Cyrus, king of the Persians, takes Ecbatana, capital city of the Medes, and establishes the first Persian empire

Polo originates in the Persian empire, probably as part of the training of the imperial cavalry

Cyrus annexes the Greek territory of Ionia as part of his empire, giving Persia a presence on the Aegean

A Persian army captures Babylon and brings it into the empire of Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great is buried in an austerely impressive tomb at Pasagardae, in Persia

Darius I wins the Persian throne and ushers in the heyday of the Achaemenid empire

Darius starts to build a spectacular new palace and capital at Persepolis

A Persian rug, woven with a knotted pile, is placed in the tomb of a Scythian chieftain and survives to this day

The 10,000 elite troops of the Persian empire, known as the Immortals, demonstrate the power of a professional standing army

The great network of roads built by Darius I has at its centre the 2000-mile royal road from Susa to Sardis

Darius I adopts Zoroastrianism as the religion of the Persian empire

The Magi, possibly converting from an earlier Iranian religion, become the priests of Zoroastrianism

Hockey, like polo, is a team game in the Persian empire

After six years the Persians recover control of Ionia, but Athens is now identified as a target for invasion

Darius sends a fleet across the Aegean, carrying a large army of infantry and cavalry for an attack on Athens

The Persian fleet moves south towards Athens, but then heads home across the Aegean without attempting an assault on the city

The Persians, renewing their interest in the Aegean, fund the Spartans in the building of a fleet to match that of Athens

Moving northeast into Mesopotamia, Alexander again defeats Darius III (at Gaugamela), leaving Persia open to his advances

A caravan leaves China with goods destined for Persia - proof that the eastern half of the Silk Road is now open

Ardashir is crowned king of Fars - a first step towards his founding of the Sassanian dynasty in Persia

Ardashir, the Persian king, commissions a relief of himself in triumphant mood - carved high on a rock face at Naqsh-e Rustam

The Persian prophet Mani establishes the dualistic Manichaean religion

The Arabs defeat a Persian army at Kadisiya and then sack the city of Ctesiphon, effectively bringing to an end the Sassanian dynasty