Persians

by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones · 2022

In *Persians*, historian Lloyd Llewellyn‑Jones brings the Achaemenid Empire to vivid life, tracing the rise of a civilization that once stretched from Libya to the Asian steppes. From the glittering courts of Cyrus the Great and Darius to the monumental splendor of Persepolis, the book explores how the Persians forged the world’s first superpower through a remarkable blend of imperial ambition, cultural tolerance, and administrative ingenuity. Drawing on inscriptions, cuneiform tablets, art and archaeology, Llewellyn‑Jones reveals how the empire’s legacy still echoes in modern Iran, reshaping our view of ancient history and the timeless allure of a people who celebrated New Year’s feasts under the banner of “King of Kings.”