The Medes or Medians were a group of Indo-Iranian-speaking people from central Asia who migrated westwards and entered northern Iran around the end of the 2nd millennium BCE. They settled in the highlands of Zagros (Zagreus in Greek) and, by the end of the 7th century BCE, founded the kingdom of Media (Mada in Old Persian).
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 1200 BCEThe Median clans are among the Indo-Iranian migrant tribes from Central Asia and/or Caucasus to North Zagros, Iran.
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850 BCEMedes migrate into Iran from Asia.
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c. 834 BCEFirst Assyrian records of the Medes: Shalmaneser III receives tribute from the "Amadi".
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727 BCE - 675 BCEMedes unite during the reign of their king Dayukku (aka Deioces).
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647 BCE - 625 BCEPhraortes is ruler of the Medes.
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c. 647 BCEAkkadian/Assyrian system of government adopted by the Medes under Phraortes.
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625 BCE - 585 BCECyaxares is ruler of the Medes.
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625 BCEIncursions by Babylonians, Elamites, Medes and Scythians weakens the city of Nineveh.
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625 BCE - 585 BCEMedian army organized during the reign of Cyaxares of the Medes.
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612 BCENineveh is sacked and burned by combined forces of Babylonians and Medes.
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612 BCEThe great Assyrian cities of Ashur, Kalhu, and Nineveh are sacked and burned by the Medes, Babylonians, and Persian forces.
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585 BCEThe Erebuni fortress in ancient Armenia is occupied by the Median Empire.
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c. 585 BCE - c. 550 BCEIshtuvaigu/Astyages expands the Median control over Elam. He finally loses his kingdom to Cyrus II of Persia.
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28 May 585 BCEA battle between Media and Lydia broke off immediately as a result of a total eclipse of the sun and the two armies made peace. The eclipse was successfully predicted by Thales of Miletus.
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553 BCECyrus the Great successfully rebels against the Medes and establishes the Achaemenid Empire of Persia.