Darius I

Darius I (or Darius the Great ) ( c. 550 – 486 BC )
King of Persia ( 521 – 486 BC ). His reign divided the empire into provinces governed by satraps, allowing each province its own government while maintaining some centralizing authority. He developed commerce, building a network of roads, exploring the Indus valley, and connecting the Nile with the Red Sea by canal. After suppressing a revolt of the Greek cities in Ionia ( 499 – 494 BC ), he invaded Greece to punish the mainland Greeks for their interference, but was defeated at Marathon ( 490 BC ).