The Persian EmpireThe Conquerors of Everyone

Start of the Persian Empire• Starts with Indo-European migrations

– Came to Persia around 1000 BCE

– Known as modern day Iran

• Land was farmable and had precious minerals for trading

– Made empire rich with traded products

Leaders of the Persian Empire• 3 major leaders to the Persian Empire

– Cyrus the Great

– Cambyses

– Darius I

• Other famous Persian Leaders

– Xerxes- famous from ‘300’ movie

• Fights against Greeks in Persian Wars

Persia Under Cyrus & Cambyses• Rules from 550-530 BCE

– Expanded empire from Anatolia to Indus river in only 12 years

• Considered a military & political genius

– Practiced religious tolerance• Prayed at the statues of a city’s gods

• Allowed Jews to return to their homeland

– Kept tight rules over his soldiers

• Did not allow looting or burning; shows respect

• Cambyses takes over when father dies

– Conquers Egypt

– Does not practice religious tolerance

Persia Under King Darius• Comes to power after Cambyses death

– Not related to the previous leaders

– Used the Ten Thousand Immortals to help• The king’s bodyguards (Darius was one)

• Created an efficient government

– Split empire in 20 sections; used satraps

• Satraps- governors of a province

• Expanded empire further

– Could not defeat the Greeks

• Built the Royal Road

– Used to unite Persia for trade and travel

– Also used metal coins like in Asia

Persian Religion-Zoroastrianism• Zoroaster- Persian prophet

– Taught that 2 armies were fighting for a person’s soul

• Army of good and light

• Army of darkness and evil

– Believed that people’s decisions

determined their fate in the afterlife

• Developed the ideas of heaven, hell and a final judgment day

– Similar to the ideas of Christianity, Islam and Judaism

• Religion named- Zoroastrianism

Persian Story Assignment• You will write a children's story

• Your story must have the following info

– Must include all 4 leaders and what they are famous for

– Must have at least 1 picture on each page/slide

– Must tell where the empire was located

– Must discuss Zoroastrianism and its beliefs

– Must have the Royal Road

• It should start once upon a time

• It needs to be able to be read by children