the great persian empire

At the height of its power after the conquest of Egypt, the empire 
encompassed approximately 8 million square kilometers spanning
 three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. At its greatest extent, 
the empire included the modern territories of Iran, Iraq, Syria, 
Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, all significant population 
centers of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya, Turkey, Thrace 
 and Macedonia, much of the Black Sea coastal regions, 
Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, much of Central Asia, Afghanistan,
 northern Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and parts of 
Oman and the UAE. An estimated 44% of the world's population
 were ruled by this empire.