Some slides by Susan M. Pojer

Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

Some slides by Susan M. Pojer

Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

Geography Geography

• Zargos Mts. to the west, Caucasus Mts. Zargos Mts. to the west, Caucasus Mts. and the Caspian Sea to the NW and and the Caspian Sea to the NW and north, deserts on the E and SEnorth, deserts on the E and SE

• High mts. at the exterior, salt deserts in High mts. at the exterior, salt deserts in the depressions, streams flowing into the depressions, streams flowing into marshesmarshes

• Never had a dense population b/c of Never had a dense population b/c of harsh conditionsharsh conditions

• underground irrigation chambers underground irrigation chambers allowed people to move to plains and allowed people to move to plains and farm farm

Persian PowerPersian Power

• Medes…the 1Medes…the 1stst to build to build a complex political a complex political powerpower

– Played a major role in Played a major role in the Assyrian takeover the Assyrian takeover of the Egyptiansof the Egyptians

• Cyrus united Persian Cyrus united Persian tribes and over threw the tribes and over threw the monarchmonarch

– Placed Persians and Placed Persians and Medians in positions Medians in positions of responsibilityof responsibility

Cyrus the Great

Social StructureSocial Structure

• Males were the head of the household and Males were the head of the household and had absolute authority over femaleshad absolute authority over females

• 3 social/occupationnal classes3 social/occupationnal classes– Warriors – owned land, hunted, fought, king Warriors – owned land, hunted, fought, king

was the best know of this groupwas the best know of this group– Priests – (a.k.a magi) ritual specialists, Priests – (a.k.a magi) ritual specialists,

supervised proper sacrificessupervised proper sacrifices– Peasants – village based farmers and Peasants – village based farmers and

shepherdsshepherds

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great

580 – 529 B. C. E.

580 – 529 B. C. E.

A tolerant ruler he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.

The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.”

The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine).

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Built Persepolis.

He extended the

Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)

Built a canal in Egypt.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Established a tax-

collecting system.

Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES.

Built the great Royal Road system.

Established a complex postal system.

Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

Ancient PersepolisAncient Persepolis

PersepolisPersepolis

The People of Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

Persian “Royal Road”Persian “Royal Road”

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Zarathustra [Zoroaster],

6c BCE:Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

Zarathustra [Zoroaster],

6c BCE:Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.