After Alexander’s victory, the Greek Seleucids held Persia for less than a century. By 247 B.C.E. the Parthians had retaken the area and had again begun to build a Persian empire, heavily influenced by Greek models. The Sassanian dynasty, established by Ardeshir in 208 C.E., was built on Parthian successes, but reestablished a sense of Persian identity along with the Zoroastrian religion. Ardeshir built a world power that challenged Rome, and in 260 C.E., his successor, Shapour I, took Rome itself. The Sassanians continued their expansion until the beginning of the 7th century when, exhausted by centuries of warfare, their empire fell to Arab forces.

Though Sassanian Persia was a strict hierarchy, its control over and dependence on the Silk Road trade route that linked China and India with Rome and Arabia made it a largely tolerant and inclusive society. Seen here is Ardeshir’s palace, outside of the trading city of Firuzabad. Its arches and domes, typical of Sassanian buildings, were later adopted by and became characteristic of Muslim architecture.

CREDIT: Afshin Marashi