In this program we'll take a look at the illustrious life of the great Persian King of Kings, Darius I, also known as Darius the Great.  Regarded by many as the most powerful ruler of the Achaemenid Dynasty of ancient Iran, Darius I is also amongst its most controversial.  We'll dive deeper into the life of great king, the contentious debate about his rise to power, and ultimately examine the words of Darius himself about his these and other aspects of his life and beliefs. Contents:00:00  Introduction and Historical Context03:37  Early Life of Darius05:14  Rise to Power as told in the Behistun Inscription16:55  Lineage and Family of Darius18:10  Rebellions and Troubles of 522 BC 20:43  Architect of an Empire: Satrapies, Reforms, Roads and Canals25:19  Darius the Builder: Susa and Persepolis 33:50  Expansion of the Achaemenid Empire35:25  The Ionian Revolt37:17  Invasion of Greece and the Battle of Marathon43:21  Thank You and PatronsSpecial thanks to Farya Faraji for the music: "Achaemenes""Shirin and Khosrow""The Riding Angaros""Memory of Cyrus""Spantodhata's Warning""The Apadana's Shadow""Battle of Cunaxa""Hyrcanian Lullaby""Immortals""Apranik's Charge""March of Achaemenes"Check out more of his work that spans across many countries, cultures and time periods: https://www.youtube.com/@faryafarajiFollow History with Cy:YouTube ChannelInstagramFacebookTwitterWebsite Support the show