Cyrus the Great
-defeated the Medes and became the first leader of the Persian Empire
-created the Immortals, a force of 10,000 highly skilled warriors to serve him
-expanded the Persian Empire by conquering surrounding lands
Darius 1
-divided the Persian Empire into 20 provinces (these were called satraps)
-tolerated religions and customs of conquered peoples
-established the capital called Persepolis
This was in the period of the great depression
B. John Smith was the first
