Parthia summary

Iran, a mountainous, arid, and ethnically diverse country of southwestern Asia. The country maintains a rich and distinctive cultural and social continuity dating back to the Achaemenian period, which began in 550 bce. Since 1979 it has become known for its unique brand of Islamic republic.

Battle of Carrhae, (53 bce), military engagement between the Roman Republic and the Parthian empire. Marcus Licinius Crassus initiated an unprovoked war against the Parthians and met their army on a plain near the Mesopotamian city of Carrhae (modern Harran, Turkey). Through his expert use of horse

Asia, the world’s largest and most diverse continent. It occupies the eastern four-fifths of the giant Eurasian landmass. Asia is more a geographic term than a homogeneous continent, and the use of the term to describe such a vast area always carries the potential of obscuring the enormous

Arsacid dynasty, (247 bc–ad 224), ancient Iranian dynasty that founded and ruled the Parthian empire. The progenitors of the dynasty were members of the Parni tribe living east of the Caspian Sea. They entered Parthia (q.v.) shortly after the death of Alexander the Great (323 bc) and gradually