Drift off to the rise of one of history's greatest empires. This is Part 1 of the complete history of Ancient Persia, covering the earliest Persian tribes through Cyrus the Great, Darius, and the peak of the Achaemenid Empire — all narrated in a slow, calming voice with soft rain sounds.

Topics covered: Origins of the Persian people, Cyrus the Great and the founding of the empire, the Achaemenid dynasty, the Persian Wars with Greece, the reign of Darius and Xerxes, Persian culture and religion, Zoroastrianism, and the empire's relationship with Babylon and Egypt.

✦ 80+ minutes of uninterrupted narration ✦ Soft rain sounds throughout ✦ No ads ✦ Designed for sleep and deep relaxation

Sleepless History is an educational sleep podcast covering ancient civilizations, world empires, famous historical figures, and major historical events — made to help you fall asleep.