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EMPIRES of PERSIAEMPIRES of PERSIA
The rise and fall of the Persian The rise and fall of the Persian EmpiresEmpires
The Achaemenid EmpireThe Achaemenid Empire
Medes and Persians migrated from central Asia Medes and Persians migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000 B.C.E.to Persia before 1000 B.C.E.– Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with
AryansAryans– Challenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empiresChallenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empires
Cyrus the Achaemenid (the Cyrus the Achaemenid (the shepherd) (reigned 558-530 shepherd) (reigned 558-530 B.C.EB.C.E.).)
Became king of Persian Became king of Persian
tribes in 558 B.C.E.tribes in 558 B.C.E. All of Iran under hisAll of Iran under his
control by 548 B.C.E.control by 548 B.C.E. Established a vastEstablished a vast
empire from India toempire from India to
borders of Egyptborders of Egypt
Cyrus’s son CambysesCyrus’s son Cambysesreigned 530-522 B.C.E.reigned 530-522 B.C.E.
Darius (reigned 521-486Darius (reigned 521-486B.C.EB.C.E.).)largest extent of empire; largest extent of empire;
population 35 millionpopulation 35 million
Diverse empire, Diverse empire,
seventy ethnic groupsseventy ethnic groups
New capital at PersepolisNew capital at Persepolis
520 520 B.C.EB.C.E..
Achaemenid administrationAchaemenid administration
23 satrapies (Persian governors), appointed 23 satrapies (Persian governors), appointed by central governmentby central government
Local officials were from local populationLocal officials were from local population Satraps’ power was checked by military Satraps’ power was checked by military
officers and imperial spiesofficers and imperial spies Replaced irregular tribute payments with Replaced irregular tribute payments with
formal taxesformal taxes
Standardization of coins and lawsStandardization of coins and laws Communication systems: Persian Royal Communication systems: Persian Royal
Road and postal stationsRoad and postal stations
Xerxes (reigned 486-465Xerxes (reigned 486-465B.C.EB.C.E.).)
Retreated from the policy of Retreated from the policy of cultural tolerationcultural toleration
Caused ill will and rebellions Caused ill will and rebellions among the peoples in among the peoples in Mesopotamia and EgyptMesopotamia and Egypt
Decline and fall of Decline and fall of Achaemenid EmpireAchaemenid Empire
Commonwealth: law, justice, administration Commonwealth: law, justice, administration led to political stability and public worksled to political stability and public works
The Persian Wars (500-479 The Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.EB.C.E.).)
Rebellion of Ionian GreeksRebellion of Ionian Greeks Persian rulers failed to put down the Persian rulers failed to put down the
rebellion, sparred for 150 yearsrebellion, sparred for 150 years
Alexander of Macedon invaded Alexander of Macedon invaded Persia in 334 Persia in 334 B.C.EB.C.E..
Battle of Gaugamela, the end of the Battle of Gaugamela, the end of the Achaemenid empire , in 331 Achaemenid empire , in 331 B.C.E.B.C.E.
Alexander burns the city of PersepolisAlexander burns the city of Persepolis
The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid
EmpiresEmpires
Seleucus inherited most of Achaemenid Seleucus inherited most of Achaemenid when Alexander diedwhen Alexander died– Retained the Achaemenid system of Retained the Achaemenid system of
administrationadministration– Opposition from native Persians; lost control Opposition from native Persians; lost control
over northern India and Iranover northern India and Iran
The Parthians, based in Iran, extend to The Parthians, based in Iran, extend to MesopotamiaMesopotamia
– Power of Parthian wasPower of Parthian was
heavy cavalryheavy cavalry– Mithradates I establishedMithradates I established
an empire through an empire through
conquests from 171-155 conquests from 171-155 B.C.E.B.C.E.
– Parthian government Parthian government
followed the example offollowed the example of
Achaemenid administrationAchaemenid administration
The Sasanids, from Persia, toppled The Sasanids, from Persia, toppled Parthians; ruled 224-651 C.E.Parthians; ruled 224-651 C.E.– Merchants brought in various crops from India Merchants brought in various crops from India
and Chinaand China– Shapur I (239-272 C.E.); buffer states with Shapur I (239-272 C.E.); buffer states with
Romans; standoff with KushanRomans; standoff with Kushan– In 651 C.E., empire incorporated into Islamic In 651 C.E., empire incorporated into Islamic
empireempire
Imperial Society and EconomyImperial Society and Economy
Social development in classical PersiaSocial development in classical Persia– Nomadic society, importance of family and clan Nomadic society, importance of family and clan
relationshipsrelationships
Imperial bureaucratsImperial bureaucrats– Imperial administration called for educated bureaucratsImperial administration called for educated bureaucrats– Shared power and influence with warriors and clan Shared power and influence with warriors and clan
leadersleaders
Free classes were bulk of Persian societyFree classes were bulk of Persian society– In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil
servantsservants– In the countryside: peasants built In the countryside: peasants built
underground canalsunderground canals
Large class of slaves who were prisoners of Large class of slaves who were prisoners of war and debtorswar and debtors
Economical foundations of classical PersiaEconomical foundations of classical Persia– Agriculture was economic foundationAgriculture was economic foundation– Trade from India to EgyptTrade from India to Egypt
Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, and Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, and banksbanks
Specialization of production in different regionsSpecialization of production in different regions
Religions of salvation in classical Religions of salvation in classical Persian societyPersian society
Zorathustra and his faithZorathustra and his faith– ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism
Emerged from theEmerged from the
teachings of Zarathustrateachings of Zarathustra
Visions: supreme god (Ahura Mazda) made Visions: supreme god (Ahura Mazda) made Zarathustra prophetZarathustra prophet
The The GathasGathas, Zarathustra’s, Zarathustra’s hymns in honor of deitieshymns in honor of deities Teachings preserved laterTeachings preserved later in writing, by in writing, by magimagi Compilation of holy Compilation of holy scriptures, Avesta, scriptures, Avesta, under Sasanid dynastyunder Sasanid dynasty
Zoroastrian teachingsZoroastrian teachings
– Ahura Mazda as aAhura Mazda as a
supreme deity, with supreme deity, with
6 lesser deities6 lesser deities– Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda (good) Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda (good)
and Angra Mainyu (evil)and Angra Mainyu (evil)– Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward
and punishmentand punishment– The material world as a blessingThe material world as a blessing– Moral formula: good words, good thoughts, Moral formula: good words, good thoughts,
good deedsgood deeds
Popularity of Zoroastrianism grows from Popularity of Zoroastrianism grows from sixth century B.C.E.sixth century B.C.E.– Attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elitesAttracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites– Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme GodDarius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God– Most popular in Iran; followings in Most popular in Iran; followings in
Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and moreMesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and more
Religions of salvation in a cosmopolitan Religions of salvation in a cosmopolitan societysociety
– Suffering of Zoroastrian community during Suffering of Zoroastrian community during Alexander’s invasionAlexander’s invasion
– Officially sponsored Zoroastrianism during the Officially sponsored Zoroastrianism during the Sasanid empireSasanid empire
– The Zoroastrian’ difficultiesThe Zoroastrian’ difficulties Islamic conquerors toppled the Sasanid empire, Islamic conquerors toppled the Sasanid empire,
seventh century B.C.E.seventh century B.C.E. Some Zoroastrians fled to India (Parsis)Some Zoroastrians fled to India (Parsis) Most Zoroastrians converted to IslamMost Zoroastrians converted to Islam Some Zoroastrians still exist in modern-day IranSome Zoroastrians still exist in modern-day Iran
Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christianity, and later IslamChristianity, and later Islam
Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism, Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism, Judaism also in PersiaJudaism also in Persia