Achaemenid Empire: Key Concepts and Events

The Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great, was a vast and powerful empire stretching from the Balkans to the Indus Valley. Cyrus's strategic military campaigns and diplomatic skills laid a strong foundation for the empire. His successors, including Cambyses II and Darius the Great, expanded the empire further, reaching its peak under Darius. Despite its eventual decline, the Achaemenid Empire's legacy of governance and cultural influence endured.

What was the geographical extent of the Achaemenid Empire at its peak?

• From Rome to India

• From Greece to Japan

• From Egypt to China

• From the Balkans to the Indus Valley

Who was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire?

• Darius the Great

• Xerxes the Great

• Cambyses II

• Cyrus the Great

Which empire did Cyrus the Great overthrow to establish the Achaemenid Empire?

• The Egyptian Empire

• The Greek Empire

• The Median Empire

• The Roman Empire

What was the outcome of the conflict between Cyrus the Great and the Lydians?

• The Lydians were decimated by Cyrus

• The conflict ended in a stalemate

• Cyrus was captured by the Lydians

• The Lydians defeated Cyrus

How did Cyrus the Great portray himself to the Babylonian people?

• As a diplomat

• As a tyrant

• As a liberator

• As a conqueror

Which territory did Cambyses II successfully conquer during his reign?

• China

• Egypt

• India

• Greece

What was a significant challenge during Cambyses II's reign?

• Natural disasters

• Internal strife

• External invasions

• Economic collapse

Under whose leadership did the Achaemenid Empire reach its peak?

• Darius the Great

• Cyrus the Great

• Cambyses II

• Xerxes the Great

What percentage of the world's population was under Achaemenid rule during Darius the Great's reign?

• 50%

• 40%

• 30%

• 20%

What was a major factor in the decline of the Achaemenid Empire?

• Invasion by the Romans

• Economic collapse

• Weak successors

• Natural disasters