Achaemenid – Name of the dynasty that ruled Persia from 550bce to 330bce.

Ahura Mazda – The lone God of Zoroastrianism, a (dominant) belief system in Achaemenid Persia.

Anshan – Ancient city in Southwestern Iran important to both the Elamites and Persians.

Ashur – Important city (and sometimes capital) in the Assyrian empire.

Ashurbanipal – Last notable king of Assyria. Ruled from 668bce-627bce

Assyria – Major Bronze and Iron age civilization (and sometime superpower) based in modern day Northern Iraq.

Astyages – King of the Medes. Successor to Cyaxares. Lost his empire to Cyrus the Great. Ruled from 585bce-550bce.

Babylonia – Sometime power and empire located in modern day Southern Iraq. Major urban center was Babylon, one of the greatest cities in ancient history.

Belshazzar– Son of Babylonian king Nabonidas. Left in Babylon as regent while Nabonidas is away from Babylon.

Cimmerians – or “Kimmerians”. Thought to be the first of the Eurasian horse nomads to menace Europe and west Asia in the 8th century BCE.

Croesus – King of Lydia until defeated by Cyrus the Great. Known from the modern phrase “Rich as Croesus”. Ruled from 595bce-546bce.

Cyaxares – King of the Medes from 625bce to 585bce. Led the Medes while they were playing a key role (along with the Babylonians) in destroying the Assyrian Empire.

Elam – Ancient civilization of Southwestern Iran. One of the great powers of the ancient world. Contemporary of Babylon and Assyria. Eventually they merged with the Medes and the Persians.