Classical Persia

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Darius, the Great King

He is shown here on his throne in Persepolis, the new capital city he built.

In his right hand, Darius holds the royal staff; with his left, he grasps a lotus blossom with two buds, a symbol of royalty.

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The Assyrian and Persian Empires

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Persian Empires

Four major dynasties:1. Achaemenids (558-330 B.C.E.)2. Seleucids (323-83 B.C.E.)3. Parthians (247 B.C.E.-224 C.E.)4. Sasanids (224-651 C.E.)

Achaemenid Empire

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Achaemenid (Persian) Empire

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Achaemenid Empire (558-330 B.C.E.)• Migration of Medes and Persians from central

Asia, before 1000 B.C.E.–

• Capitalized on weakening Assyrian & Babylonian empires

• – “Cyrus the Shepherd”

• –Ruled Indus to the Aegean–Built capital, Persepolis

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Achaemenid Administration: The Satrapies

• • Satraps Persian, but staff principally local• System of spies, –Minimized possibilities of local rebellion

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King Darius & Zoroastrianism• Iranian sovereigns were

hereditary military leaders

• • Built intricate system of

roads• King’s authority

supported by strong military as well as state-sponsored religion:

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Zoroastrianism• • • Prophet of Ahura Mazda (Creator God), against

Angra Mainyu • Life is a struggle of truth against falsehood &

continues into the next (spiritual) life.• Priests = • Oral teachings = • Zoroastrianism did not survive as major religion but

continued to be practiced regularly until 7th century CE, now has ~ 2 million followers in Iran & India

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Technologies: Qanat• –

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Technologies: Roads

• Extensive road-building:• : – –

• Long-distance trade benefits from Persian road-building

• Goods from India especially valued

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The Royal Road

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Decline of the Achaemenid Empire

• Policy of toleration under Cyrus, Darius–

• Xerxes (486-465 B.C.E.)

• Increasing public discontent

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Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.)

• Rebellious Greeks in Ionia• Peninsular Greeks join in• • Alexander the Great conquers the

Achaemenid empire (334-331 B.C.E.)•

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Seleucid Empire

• Alexander the Great dies suddenly • Generals divide empire, best part goes to

Seleucus (r. 305-281 B.C.E.)•

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The Achaemenid and Seleucid Empires, 558-330 B.C.E. and 323-83 B.C.E.

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Parthian Empire

• Semi-nomadic Parthians drive Seleucus out of Iran

• • Especially strong

cavalry• • Fell to internal

rebellion

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Sasanid Empire (224-651 C.E.)

• Claimed descent from Achaemenids• Continual conflicts with Rome, Byzantium in

the west, Kush in the east• • Persian administration and culture absorbed

into local Islamic culture•

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The Parthian & Sasanid Empires, 247 B.C.E.-651 C.E.

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Persian Society

• – –Family/clan kinship very important

• Creation of bureaucrat class with empire– – –

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Slave Class

• • Debtors• Children, spouses also sold into slavery• –Some agricultural labor, public works

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Other Religious Groups in the Persian Empire

• • Composition of the Talmud, ca. 500 C.E.–“Constitution of Judaism”

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