Antiquity

Parthian Empire

Period
239 BC – AD 237
Duration
approx. 475 years
Greatest extent
around AD 161
Area (max.)
approx. 3.1 million km²
Parthian Empire at its greatest extent (around AD 161) · Borders: Cliopatria
▶ View on the interactive map

Profile

Strength

Horse archers and heavy cataphracts; the 'Parthian shot' became famous.

Famous figures

  • Arsaces I
  • Mithridates I
  • Mithridates II
  • Surena
  • Orodes II

Wars & battles won

  • Battle of Carrhae (53 BC)
  • Repelling Mark Antony's campaign (36 BC)

Wars & battles lost

  • Trajan's campaign: Ctesiphon taken (116)
  • Overthrown by the Sasanians (224–226)

Languages

  • Parthian
  • Greek
  • Aramaic

Period and duration

Parthian Empire — according to the map data from 239 BC to AD 237, roughly 475 years. The dates refer to the time the empire is drawn as its own territory on the world map; historians sometimes date its founding and end differently.

Greatest extent

Parthian Empire — greatest extent around AD 161: the mapped borders then cover about 3.1 million km², roughly 2.1% of Earth's land area. The area is calculated from the border lines of the map and is therefore an approximation.

239 BCArea according to the map data (max. 3.1 million km²)AD 237

Predecessors and successors

States that ruled the same territory directly before and after:

Before (240 BC)

After

Neighbours around AD 161

The largest states in the region at the same time:

Learn more

Borders and dates: Cliopatria / Seshat Global History Databank (CC BY 4.0). Coastlines: Natural Earth. Text: Centaurian.