CLEP Western Civ I

Answer: E - The Parthian Empire dominated the area between China and Rome on the Silk Road from 248 BC - 224 CE. It was founded by Arsaces I, who, before becoming the first emperor of Parthia, was a chieftain in the valley of Parni. They revolted against the Seleucid Empire to gain the northeastern part of Persia, and later on increased their borders through the defeat of the Seleucids in Mesopotamia and Medea. They were such a formidable empire that a small concession from them was considered a great defeat by Caesar Augustus of Rome in 35 BC.