What would the Achaemenid empire be like at its peak under the rule of Darius?

Question

What would the Achaemenid empire be like at its peak under the rule of Darius? What were the foundations of Persian rule? In what ways did the Achaemenids influence later Persian dynasties (Seleucids, Parthians, Sasanids) and the rest of history?

Answer 1

First of all, you need to know the background of the Achaemenid family. In about 500 BC they killed people after promising on the temple of Athena that they wouldn't and because of this they were expelled from Attica and though to be cursed. Pericles, the ruler of Athens while Darius ruled Persia, was an Achaemenid.

After the death of Darius and his son Xerxes, and Alchaemenid took over the rule of the Perisan empire, which meant that Persia was ruled under the Alchaemenid clan for several centuries. This caused ill relations with the Greek world for a period of time.

Thats all I've got since I am only up to the first Pelopennesian war in my Ancient Greek history class....