Our latest issue of Honest History is out! In Issue 33 | Jewels of Persia, kids can take a journey back in time to explore the vast and vibrant world of ancient Persia. From the palace halls of Persepolis to the mythical creatures of ancient Iran, kids will uncover the remarkable story of the Achaemenid Empire.
As always, we’re sharing some additional materials to help kids and parents dive deeper. Use the resources below to learn more about the history and culture of ancient Persia.
Researchers and Aspiring Academics
Here are some helpful texts to get you started on your research journey.
From Cyrus to Alexander: A History of the Persian Empire by Pierre Briant: Widely recognized as the benchmark in Achaemenid studies, Pierre Briant’s text covers the complete history of the Persian Empire. The book offers a helpful analysis of political structures, cultural changes, military campaigns, and administration from the rise of Cyrus through the conquests of Alexander the Great. It is essential reading for historians seeking a comprehensive text on ancient Persia.
King of the World: The Life of Cyrus the Great by Matt Waters: Cyrus the Great laid the foundation for one of history's largest and most influential empires. This accessible biography examines his dramatic rise to power, innovative rule, and lasting legacy across the ancient Near East.
Women of the Empire: Life and Labor in the Achaemenid Persepolis Archives by Yazdan Safaee: Issue 33 dives into the lives of women in ancient Persia–a topic that is often overlooked. Want to learn more? This groundbreaking study examines administrative clay tablets from the Persepolis archives to explore the economic roles, social status, and daily labor of both royal and non-royal Persian women. It provides invaluable primary source insights into women's working lives during the Achaemenid Empire.
A Companion to the Achaemenid Persian Empire edited by Bruno Jacobs and Robert Rollinger: This comprehensive work brings together cutting-edge research from leading experts on the Achaemenid Empire. Readers can explore chapters on Persian archaeology, religion, art, administration, and international relations. It is an invaluable resource for academics conducting in-depth research on the ancient Persian world.
Archers frieze from Darius' palace at Susa. Glazed siliceous bricks, c. 510 BC. Image from Wikimedia.
Parents and Educators
Explore these free online resources to build lesson plans for your home or classroom.
Encyclopædia Iranica: This digital encyclopedia is a treasure trove of scholarly information on ancient Iranian history and culture. Educators can draw upon thousands of accessible entries to build rich, fact-checked lesson plans about leaders, architecture, and traditions. It is an exceptional digital tool for teachers, parents, and students.
Getty Museum | Persepolis Reimagined: Take your students on a virtual field trip to the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire with this interactive 3D web experience. Users can stroll through digitized reconstructions of grand palace halls, admire intricate stone reliefs, and learn about the diverse artisans who built the monument. It is an extraordinary visual resource that brings the splendor of ancient Persepolis to life.
British Museum | Virtual Tour of Room 52: Step inside the British Museum's famous gallery of ancient Iran with this virtual Street View tour. Students can inspect world-renowned artifacts (including the Cyrus Cylinder) right from their web browsers. It provides a fantastic hands-on primary source experience for classrooms exploring ancient Persia.
The Cyrus Cylinder. © The Trustees of the British Museum. Shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) licence.
Young Historians
Dive into the history and legends of Iran with these engaging children’s books.
Persian Mythology: Epic Stories of Gods, Heroes, and Monsters by Ryan Bani Tahmaseb and illustrated by Reza Dalvand: Did you enjoy learning about mythical beasts in Issue 33? Dive into ancient Persian folklore with this beautifully illustrated collection of tales. Young readers will meet more mythical creatures, legendary heroes, and powerful divinities in this captivating introduction to Persian mythology.
The Phoenix of Persia by Sally Pomme Clayton and illustrated by Amin Hassanzadeh Sharif: Based on an iconic tale from the legendary epic Shahnameh, this picture book tells the story of Prince Zal and the wise, mythical Simurgh bird who raises him. It is a wonderful read-aloud choice for families and classrooms wanting to experience traditional Persian storytelling. There is even music to accompany the text!
The Secret Message by Mina Javaherbin and illustrated by Bruce Whatley: Based on a poem by the Persian philosopher Rumi, this delightful picture book follows a clever parrot who outsmarts a wealthy merchant to regain his freedom. The story offers young readers a memorable lesson on empathy, liberty, and clever problem-solving.
If you want to learn more about ancient Persia, we hope you’ll check out our kids' magazine, Issue 33 | Jewels of Persia. Stay tuned as we continue to share research tips and resources for future issues!