Iran & Central AsiaAsiaMajor empire

Sasanian Persian Empire

Also known as Neo-Persian Empire, Eranshahr

224 CE – 651 CE · about 427 years

The Sasanian Empire was the last pre-Islamic Persian empire and a great rival of Rome and Byzantium for four centuries, with Zoroastrianism as its state religion. Long wars with Byzantium exhausted both powers in the early 7th century. The Rashidun Caliphate conquered it between 633 and 651.

Key facts

Dates	224 CE – 651 CE
Region	Iran & Central Asia
Continent	Asia
Capitals	Ctesiphon, Istakhr
Founder	Ardashir I
Religion(s)	Zoroastrianism
Peak extent	≈ 3.5 million km² (c. 550 CE) – source

Before & after

Preceded by

Parthian Empire Kingdom of Armenia Himyarite Kingdom Kushan Empire Characene Adiabene Kingdom of Hatra Kingdom of Iberia (Kartli) Elymais

Followed by

Rashidun Caliphate Kidarites Bavand dynasty

In the Islamic timeline

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ — The Prophet ﷺ sent a letter inviting Khosrow II to Islam (Sahih al-Bukhari 64).
Salman al-Farisi (RA) — Born in Persia under Sasanian rule; later died in al-Mada'in (Ctesiphon).
Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) — Commanded the Muslim army at al-Qadisiyyah and took Ctesiphon.
Umar ibn al-Khattab (al-Faruq) (RA) — Caliph during the conquest of the Sasanian heartland.
Khalid ibn al-Walid (Sayf Allah) (RA) — Led the first campaign into Sasanian Iraq in 633.
Zoroastrianism (al-Majus / Magians) — Zoroastrianism was the Sasanian state religion.

Sources

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