The city of Tehran, the bustling capital of Iran, has a long and storied history that spans over thousands of years. Its origins can be traced back to ancient times when the area was settled by the Medes, a group of Indo-European people who ruled over the region in the 6th century BC. Tehran's location at the crossroads of various trade routes made it a strategic spot for commerce and political power. This attracted the attention of various empires throughout history, including the Parthians, the Sassanians, and the Seljuks. It wasn't until the 13th century, however, that the city truly began to take shape. In 1220, the Mongols invaded Iran and sacked the city of Ray, which was located near present-day Tehran.