Achaemenid dynasty, around that time, the Persian empire had [44% of the world's population](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-empire-by-percentage-of-world-population).
The Greek poleis *were* scrappy little states on the outside of the largest empire (relatively to share
oldest cat still living or something similar.
Guinness shows Creme Puff as the oldest.
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-cat-ever
Difference with Everest, according to Guinness Book of World Records](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/12/earths-tallest-mountain-mauna-kea-ascended-for-the-first-time-687258)
According to Guinness:](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2021/12/earths-tallest-mountain-mauna-kea-ascended-for-the-first-time-687258)
>If you're wondering why we’re not talking about Mount Everest, it comes down to size vs altitude. Soaring to 8,848.8 m (29,031 ft) above
ShalmaneserIII t1_ivmnp88 wrote
Reply to comment by Jokerang in TIL that the Persian King Xerxes was so enraged after a storm destroyed his bridges that he ordered the sea be given 300 whiplashes, and branded it with red-hot irons as the soldiers shouted at the water by LethalPoopstain
Achaemenid dynasty, around that time, the Persian empire had [44% of the world's population](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/largest-empire-by-percentage-of-world-population). The Greek poleis *were* scrappy little states on the outside of the largest empire (relatively to share