Iran & Central AsiaAsia

Median Empire

Also known as Media

c. 678 – c. 549 BCE · about 129 years approximate dates

The Medes were an ancient Iranian people who formed a kingdom centred on Ecbatana in north-western Iran. Together with Babylon they destroyed the Assyrian Empire in 612–609 BCE. Cyrus the Great of Persia overthrew the last Median king in about 550 BCE.

Key facts

Dates	c. 678 – c. 549 BCE
Region	Iran & Central Asia
Continent	Asia
Capital	Ecbatana
Founder	Deioces (according to Herodotus)
Religion(s)	Ancient Iranian religion
Peak extent	≈ 2.8 million km² (c. 585 BCE) – source

Before & after

Preceded by

Neo-Assyrian Empire Urartu

Followed by

Achaemenid Persian Empire

Sources

Wikipedia – Medes
Wikipedia – List of largest empires

Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.