Ancient Persia could refer to different periods:
* The Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BCE): This is the period most people think of when they say "ancient Persia."
* The Parthian Empire (247 BCE – 224 CE): This followed the Achaemenids.
* The Sassanid Empire (224-651 CE): The last Persian empire before the Islamic conquests.
Languages spoken could refer to:
* The official language: This was often the language of administration, law, and high culture.
* Regional languages: These were languages spoken by different groups within the empire.
* Languages of neighboring cultures: Persia was always in contact with other civilizations, so their languages might also be spoken within the Persian realm.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BCE):
* Official language: Old Persian (a language closely related to Avestan, the sacred language of Zoroastrianism).
* Regional languages: Aramaic (a Semitic language widely spoken in the Middle East), Elamite (an ancient language spoken in southwestern Iran), and other languages of the conquered peoples.
Parthian Empire (247 BCE – 224 CE):
* Official language: Parthian (an Iranian language).
* Regional languages: Aramaic continued to be widely used, as well as various Iranian languages spoken in different parts of the empire.
Sassanid Empire (224-651 CE):
* Official language: Middle Persian (a direct descendant of Old Persian).
* Regional languages: Aramaic was still important, as were various Iranian languages, including Sogdian (spoken in Central Asia) and Khwarezmian (spoken in the region around the Aral Sea).
Other languages:
* Greek: After Alexander the Great's conquest of Persia, Greek became an important language in the region, especially in areas where Greek settlements were established.
* Latin: In the late Roman Empire, Latin had some influence in the eastern Mediterranean region, including parts of Persia.
It's important to note that the boundaries between these languages and their spheres of influence weren't always clear-cut. Different languages coexisted within the same territory, and people were often multilingual.
Overall, ancient Persia was a multilingual society, with Old Persian, Parthian, and Middle Persian serving as the official languages during different periods. Aramaic, Elamite, and various Iranian languages also played significant roles in the language landscape of ancient Persia.