Round 1: RISE TO POWER Alexander the Great and Cyrus the Great had distinct, but equally remarkable ascents to power. Alexander, born in 356 BCE to King Philip II of Macedonia, benefited from his ...

Through a series of brilliant military campaigns, Cyrus conquered all the great states of the Near East (except Egypt) in just over 10 years (550 to 539 B.C.).

When Cyrus conquered the Babylonian Empire, he enabled these Jews to return home and rebuild their temple. This Second Temple, completed c. 516 BCE, lasted until 70 CE, when the Romans destroyed it.

The Persian Empire, founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great, became one of history’s most powerful and influential empires. At its height, it spanned three continents,covering parts of ...

In Hebrew scripture, Cyrus is mentioned in Isaiah (45:1), “Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; ...