Chapter Four: Greece & Iran (Persia)

1000 BCE – 600 CE

Geography & Resources

Iran (Persia)• Huge empire• Primarily land-based• Protected by mountains, deserts,

Persian Gulf-open to attack from Central Asian nomads

• Limited natural resources-copper, tin, iron, gold, silver

• Limited water = limited population & agricultural surplus-irrigation networks w/tunnels & intense labor necessary

Greece• Part of Mediterranean ecological zone-

all lands have similar climate, similar seasons, similar crops

• Conducive to migration & transfer of crops, technology, trade

• Included Greek mainland, islands & western edge of Anatolia

• Relied on rainfall- no water resources sufficient for irrigation

• Limited water & limited, thin arable soil- could not support large populations-migration necessary

• Few metal resources, little timber, but did have plentiful harbors

Rise/Expansion

Persia• northwestern Iran helped

destroy Assyrian Empire in late 7 century B.C.E

• built up by series of 3 kings: Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius I

• Cyrus was 1st

Greece• explosive population growth

during Archaic period• Cause: shift from pastoral to

agricultural economy, new foods, raw materials

• Effects: urbanization, specialization, development of the polis (city-state)

Political (Government)

Persia: Centralized • Complex, imperial

bureaucracy• King embodied majesty,

splendor• Multi-cultural population• Satrapies/Satraps-collected

taxes, sent tribute to king• Roads connected empire• Military came from all over

empire

Greeks: City-States• Independent, suspicious,

frequent wars betwn city-states• Rejection of tyrants led to either

democracy or oligarchy• Athenian democracy limited-

Only free adult males participated-about 10-15% of population

• Connected through culture; religion, language, myths, etc.

• Hoplite Infantry-(Phalanx)-private citizens defense

• Trireme Navy

Ideology/Religion

Persia• Zoroastrianism- dualistic

universe-god of good, Ahuramazda, was locked in an epic struggle against god of evil, Angra Mainyu

• Combined morality with political ideology-”divine mission”; unite all people & restore perfection of creation

• Dualism may have influenced Judaism & Christianity

• Darius used it to justify his rule

Greek• Originally involved worship of

anthropomorphic sky gods, many represented forces of nature

• No morality• Worshiped at state ceremonies • Animal Sacrifice central part of

religious practice- helped create sense of community

• Evolved into gods/goddesses with human like characteristics who interacted w/humans

• Oracle at Delphi very important • Female fertility deities

Society

Persia• Patriarchal• Tolerant towards conquer

peoples• Royal women politically

influential• possessed property, traveled, • prominent at public occasions• protected family members-

mediated conflicts

Greeks• Patriarchal• Women, children, slaves, foreigners no rights • Slaves foreigners-1/3rd of population-

provided males time for political activity,etc• Position of women varied; Sparta=women

relatively free & outspoken; Athens=women more confined ; oppressed

• Athenian marriages unequal, arranged unions of younger women to older men

• Wife produced & reared children (especially sons); wove cloth, cooked, cleaned

• Men sought intellectual, emotional companionship w/other men

Persian Wars• In 499 B.C.E., the Greek cities of

Anatolia, aided by Eretria & Athens, staged 5-year revolt against Persian rule

• First Persian War-Persians captured Eretria & attacked Athens-attack foiled when Athenian forces defeated Persians at Marathon

• Second Persian War-Xerxes led large army & fleet against Greek

• Sparta organized Hellenic League, an alliance of city-states that defeated the Persians

• Then Athens formed Delian League-went on offensive & drove Persians out of most of eastern Mediterranean (except Cyprus)

Athenian Golden Age

• Philosophy• Science• Medicine• Theater• Geometry• Sculpture• Architecture• Individualism

The Peloponnesian Wars:

Sparta• Infantry• Military State• Peloponnesian League

Athens• Navy• “Imperial” Democracy• Delian League

•Lasted 30 years•Plague ravaged Athens surrendered to Sparta who had received support from Persia•Both weakened which led to Persia’s domination until Philip II of Macedonia rose to power

Rise of Macedonia• Philip II, transformed

Macedonia into the premier military power in Greek world

• Imporved traditional hoplite formation

• Used longer thrusting spears and less armor

• Coordinated use of infantry and cavalry

• New siege equipment, catapults

• Defeated coalition of southern states

• Established Confederacy of Corinth

• Appointed himself military commander and attacked Persia

• Assassinated• Alexander (the Great) his son &

heir continued the attempt to exact revenge on Persia for Xerxes invasion 150 years before

Alexander the Great

• Maintained Persian administration in lands he conquered

• Installed Macedonian & Greeks• Established Greek-styled cities & settled soldiers

there• Used Persians selectively• Adopted Persian dress and court ceremony• Married Persian women & encouraged others to

as well

Hellenistic Synthesis, 323-30 BCE• After Alexander died, empire broke up into 3 kingdoms, each

ruled by Macedonian dynasty• Seleucid kingdom: core area of Mesopotamia, Syria, parts of

Anatolia, & peripheral possessions, Iran & Indus Valley, which were lost by 2nd century BCE

• Seleucids maintained Persian-style administrative system-continued policy of establishing new Greek-style cities

• Ptolemies ruled Egypt-sometimes Palestine• Took over Egyptian administrative & taxation systems • Ptolemies made Alexandria their capital-encouraged Greek

immigration

Hellenistic Synthesis, 323-30 BCE• Ptolemies did not build other Greek-style cities; lifestyle/language of

majority of Egyptians did not change significantly• Native Egyptians resented Greek rule- uprisings increasingly common • Antigonids ruled Macedonia & adjacent parts of Greece • Spartans, resisted Macedonian rule-Athens remained neutral• Alexandria was greatest city of Hellenistic age-political center, learning,

trade• was a essentially a Greek city• Greek residents enjoyed citizenship- took part in institutions of government • Public baths, theatres, gymnasiums• Significant Jewish population• Hellenization=intermarriage between Greeks & non-Greeks, spread of Greek

language & lifestyle, & synthesis of indigenous & Greek culture

Conclusion: The Persian Period

• Persians managed to hold together diverse collections of peoples in part through flexibility and tolerance of local customs and laws, leaving considerable administrative duties to native leaders.

• While the Zoroastrian religion underlined the authority of the king as an appointee of god, it also provided a public perception of justice and defense against evil.

• Persian law and administration provided security and stability, thus fostering commerce and stability. Their ability to organize large-scale labor forces expanded water distribution.

• Persian cultural influences fused with the remaining cultural influences of Mesopotamia. Because Persian administration relied upon the written languages of Mesopotamian, Syrian, and Egyptian subjects, the Persian language was not widely adopted over the empire.

Conclusion: The Hellenistic Period• The independent Greek city-states, which had caused turmoil

through competition for over two centuries, became inconsequential with Alexander’s vast conquests of the Persians as well as the frontiers of northeastern Africa and western Asia.

• Greek influence had a much more profound impact on the Middle East than did the Persian period. Although Alexander had intended to continue the Persian administrative form, his successors relied almost exclusively on Greek soldiers and administrators.

• The Greek-style cities imposed over the expanded empire, and the adoption of alphabetic Greek writing, which led to more literacy and dissemination of information, also contributed to long-term Hellenistic influence throughout the Middle East.