nIn 539 BC, the Middle East was unified under the Persian Empire. Long before that date, trade routes and princely alliances had created links between distant geographical regions, each with its own distinct way of life. Cuneiform, an early form of writing using wedge-shaped characters, had already given Middle Eastern civilizations a degree of cultural uniformity. «@Darius the Great@
A Persian inscription describes Darius I (548-486 BC), the founder of the Persian Empire, as "the great king, king of kings, king of kingdoms". In this relief, he is carried by the 23 nations constituting his empire. "If you wish to know how many countries King Darius possessed, then look at this picture of the nations bearing my throne and you will understand that the Persian people battled far from home."
