Iran
Iran's ancient history is a tapestry of civilizations and empires that have left a profound impact on the world. The earliest evidence of human activity on the Iranian plateau dates back to approximately 100,000 BC, but it was around 1000 BC that the Indo-European nomads known as the Parsa began to settle in the region. The name 'Persia' comes from these early inhabitants, whose legacy would grow to become one of the most influential in ancient history. The Achaemenian dynasty, founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC, marked the beginning of a golden age for Persia.