Which empire was the first to unite the Middle East, Asia Minor, and Persia?
Explanation
Answer: A - Under Cyrus the Great, the Achaemenid Empire (or Persian Empire) united the Middle East and Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) with Persia (present-day Iran) around 540 B.C.E. Cyrus overthrew the Medes, Lydians, and Babylonians to build his empire, which he ruled benevolently, allowing the local customs of culture of conquered regions to remain intact as long the people acquiesced to his rule. The Persian Empire fell in 330 B.C.E. to Alexander the Great’s Macedonian Empire.
