The Medes, like the Persians, were Iranians, but formed the first wave of invasion of this ethnic group in Asia-Anterior. They occupied all northern Persia and Azerbaijan, arid the valley of the Araxes. They retired to the south of Ararat and towards the upper courses of the Tigris and the Euphrates, establishing themselves under the name of Kurds, the Carduchis of the classic Greeks and Latins.