GEOGRAPHY • 1800 km o From Caspian sea (N)  Persian gulf and Indian ocean (S) • 3600 km o Egypt and the coast of Ionia (W) to Indus river (E) • 5 million km2  10 million population • Most of the land area was populated by conquered peoples o E.g. Egyptians, Babylonians, Armenians, Ionian Greeks etc. • Trade routes were geographically formed o China silk road  salt deserts of the Iranian plateau from Mesopotamia o Also an invasion route. • Almost all the known “civilized” world was ruled by the Persians TOPOGRAPHY • Plateau in the middle of the empire  empire ringed with mountains • Salt deserts o Dried up former lakes • Mountains are treeless o Protect the empire from enemies • Mesopotamia  most fertile part • Terrain hugely varied o Rugged mountain ranges  Mt Zagros, 15000ft o Low lying deserts  in the SW and S o Fertile plains with rivers and streams o Extensive coastline