AP. The passing of one of the greatest down home actors of all time -- Andy Griffith -- brings to mind that, sadly, many of the actors who lived in the fictional town of Mayberry, NC are no longer with us.
The Medes were an people of Indo-Iranian (Aryan) origin who inhabited the western and north-western portion of present-day Iran. By the 6th century BC (prior to the Persian invasion) the Medes were able to establish an empire that stretched from Aran (the modern-day Republic of Azerbaijan) to Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The Medes were able to halt Lydian expansion, but their rule was short-lived, about fifty years when they were conquered by the Persians. 1 Nahum 3:7. 5 The Rise of the Persians under Cyrus Through toleration not military terror the Persians came to rule a vast area, and is considered the first largest empire.