The First Iranian Empire: Media
Northern Iran consisted of Median city-states. In 715 BC, Deioces united these city-states and was considered to be the founder of the Median Empire. The Medes allied with the Babylonians against the Assyrian Superpower. In 612 BC, the alliance captured the Assyrian capital Nineveh and overthrew the Assyrian Empire. The Median Empire emerged as the dominant power and consequently expanded the borders to eastern Anatolia under the Median king, Cyaxares. In 584 BC, Cyaxares was succeeded by his son, Astyages, who became allied with the Lydian king, Croesus. Meanwhile, the Persians were the subjects of the Medians. Astyages" daughter, Mandana, married the Persian king, Cambyses I, and gave birth to the end of the Median Empire... The Median Empire 600 BC