The Mède empire towards 600 av. J. - C.
Chart Alain Houot
Indo-Aryan people of old Iran, Mèdes appear for the first time under the name of Mada in 836 av. J. - C., in annals of the Assyrian king Salmanasar III. According to the Assyrian sources, Mèdes seem to have occupied the territories located east of mountains of Alvand, which extend in the west from Iran, towards the current area of Teheran-Qazvin.
Their history is closely related to that of other tribes of the north of Iran, in particular Persians installed close to the lake Ourmia, Manéens in the mountains of Zagros, and Ellipis in Dasht Mahi. Populate more “remote” known Assyrians, Mèdes start to represent a threat for those only in 674 av. J. - C., under the reign of Assarhaddon (Assour-aha-iddin, 680-669).