Original subtitles

From the mighty capital of Persepolis,

the Persian kings rule over most of the known ancient world,

their power over the empire is absolute,

so they don't even fortify the perimeter of this magnificent city.

But that leaves it exposed.

What happens to Persepolis?

Ali investigates the remains of the great city.

[Ali speaking]

[narrator] Ali finds the same discolorations across the city.

This is shocking evidence that Persepolis suffers a devastating fire.

[Ali speaking]

[narrator] In the tunnels beneath the Palace complex,

Ali and his team unearth further evidence of a brutal attack on the city.

In the southern channel of the treasury,

he discovers a huge deposit of ash and charcoal up to two feet thick,

and the remains of former residents of Persepolis seen here for the first time.

[Ali speaking]

[narrator] Experts are yet to forensically examine the skeletons

and determine how the people died.

But the evidence suggests the skulls date to the downfall of the great city.

[Ali speaking]

[narrator] Persepolis, the once mighty

and untouchable city is attacked,

the Persians failed to defend their capital

and it is burned to the ground.

Who leads this audacious assault?

It is Alexander, the Great, the mighty Greek king

who topples the magnificent Persian capital.

In the 4th century B.C., Alexander rampages across the Persian Empire.

Starting out from Macedonia, he conquers Anatolia,

Egypt, and Mesopotamia,

all the while heading to Persepolis.

He uses Darius' Royal Road to march his vast army

across the desert and attacks the great city.

Persepolis falls in only a few days.

Alexander burns it to the ground as payback

for the Persians burning of Athens.

The Persian Empire that rules over most of the known world for over 200 years,

is incorporated into Alexander, the Great's, New Imperial Power House.

But Alexander follows in the steps of the astounding achievements

of the ancient Persians.

[Sophy] Alexander is only able to achieve his very brief empire,

because he's taking over the Persian Empire.

But this whole idea of creating empire of such large scale

does go back really to the Persians.

[narrator] The Persians conquer most of the known ancient world,

ruling over 23 nations across two million square miles.

They absorb their wealth and knowledge

to create their mighty capital, Persepolis.

A majestic city richer than any other.

Its magnificent palaces stand toe-to-toe

with the wonders of the ancient world.

With cutting edge technology and remarkable feats of engineering,

the Persian kings create a lush paradise in the desert

and populate it with a highly sophisticated, multicultural society,

leaving behind a legacy of how to rule the ancient world.

[theme music playing]