A history of the Persian Empire and its rulers from c.620 to 424 BC, based on a range of source material. The study ends with a discussion of the organisation and administration of the Empire and its religious aspects. Also includes an index of people and gods, notes on sources and lists of authors and texts, maps, family tree, calendrical and chronological information.

Part I. The Rise of Persia: 1. Cyrus I (1); 2. The inscriptions of Ariaramnes and Arsames (2-3); 3. Cyrus II (4-17); 4. Cambyses II (18-29); 5. Bardiya (30-42); Part II. The Persian Empire Under the First Three Achaemenid Kings: 6. Darius I (43-60); 7. Xerxes I (61-75); 8. Artaterxes I (76-93); Part III. The Organisation and Administration of the Persian Empire; Religion in the Empire: 9. Persian Kingship (94-122); 10. The Administration of the Empire (123-158); 11. Royal women (159-180); 12. Travel in the Empire (168-172); 13. Religion in the Empire (191-205).