MEDES (MÂDHÂ)

THE FIRST IRANIAN DYNASTY

Iran at the time of Median Dynasty

The Median kingdom, was the first Iranian dynasty corresponding to the northeastern section of present-day Iran, Northern-Khvarvarana and Asuristan (now days known as Iraq), and South, Eastern Anatolia and southern part of caucuses.

The inhabitants, who were known as Medes, and their neighbors, the Persians, spoke Median languages, of Western-Iranian group of languages, that were closely related to Aryan (Old Persian). Historians know very little about the Iranian culture under the Median dynasty, except that Zoroastrianism as well as a polytheistic religion was practiced, and a priestly caste called the Magi existed.

Beginning about 835 BCE the Median tribes became subject intermittently to the kings of Assyria. About 715 BCE the Median chieftain Dayaukku, known to the Greek historian Herodotus as Deïoces, led the Iranians in an unsuccessful rebellion against the Assyrian king Sargon II (reigned 722-705 BCE). The later rulers of Iran considered Dayaukku the founder of the Median dynasty. Subsequently, another king named Khshathrita (r. about 675-653 BCE), known to the Greeks as Phraortes, united the Iranians under one umbrella and expelled the Assyrians. Khshathrita was killed by the Scythians, who invaded their lands from the northwest

Khshathrita's son Cyaxares (r. 625-585 BCE) chose as his capital the city of Ecbatana (present-day Hamadan). In 625 he drove the Scythians out of Iran and imposed his rule over all Iranians, including the Persians. He attacked Assyria and captured (614 BCE) the city of Ashur. In 612, in alliance with the newly independent kingdom of Babylonia, he captured the city of Nineveh and overthrew the Assyrian Empire.

Thereafter Cyaxares extended the territory of his kingdom to include all of eastern Anatolia. Cyaxares was succeeded by his son Astyages (r. about 584-c. 550 BCE). The Iranians, under Cyrus the Great (Astyages's grandson), the founder of Achaemenian dynasty, revolted against him about 550 BCE.

Joined by a portion of the Median army under a chief named Harpagus, they took Ecbatana and deposed the Median king. However, since Medes were Iranians and Persians regarded them as equal, and thenceforth the two peoples were considered as one, which their coalition and Cyrus the Great' wisdom led to creation of the first world Empire.

  source:

http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/History/madha/medes.htm