(middle land). Madai (Gen. 10:2); Media (Esther 1:3). The country northwest of Persia and south of Caspian Sea. Held early sway in Babylon. Tributary to Assyria, B. C. 880. Independent, and conquered Babylon; next, Assyria. Empire at its height, B. C. 625. Overthrown by Persian Cyrus, B. C. 558. Medo-Persian empire overthrown by Alexander the Great, B. C. 330 (Isa. 13:17-18; Esther 1:19; Dan. 6:8-12; 1 Chron. 5:26).