Final answer:
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great, also known as the Achaemenid Empire, covered regions that are now part of Iran, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, and extended to the Indus River valley. Founded around 550 BCE, it grew to be one of history's largest empires, with its capital, Persepolis, established by Darius I.
Step-by-step explanation:
Location of the Persian Empire Under Cyrus the Great
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great, which is also known as the Achaemenid Empire, was located across a vast area of Western Asia. Cyrus the Great founded the empire around 550 BCE, and it expanded to become one of the largest empires in history during that time, encompassing regions that included today's Iran, parts of Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Eastern Mediterranean to Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, extending as far as the Indus River valley in the east.
Cyrus was a master leader who integrated the Median elite into his administration and maintained a policy of respect towards conquered cultures, keeping rebellions to a minimum. He expanded his empire through significant conquests, such as the defeat of the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE and the subjugation of the Mediterranean coast and Egypt.
The empire was organized into twenty satrapies by his successor Darius I, further illustrating the empire's vast and diverse reach. The capital city, Persepolis, was established by Darius I and became an architectural and cultural gem of the ancient world.