The Persian Empire

The World’s First Superpower

Objectives

• Students will discover who shaped the growth and organization of the Persian Empire.

• Students will explore the main teachings of Zoroastrianism.

• Students will identify the most significant cultural achievements of the Persians

• Students will discover the connections between ancient Persia and Modern Iran

Theme 1: GovernmentPersia under the Medes

• Both Indo-European tribes • Medes conquered Persians• Persians allowed to keep their own

leaders as long as they did not rebel

Darius I• Crushed rebellion after death of

Cyrus’s son • Strengthened army, empire

• Tried to invade Greece, turned back at Marathon.

• Ceremony and ritual• Created satraps to help govern

Cyrus the Great • Defeated Medes in 559 BC• Expanded Persian Empire• Freed Jews in Babylon• Respected by those he conquered

Persia in Decline• Rule of Darius high point of Persian

culture • Son, Xerxes, failed to conquer Greece• Last strong ruler of Persia • Following leaders weak and ineffective

Cyrus Cylinder has also been claimed to be an early "human rights charter"

Cyrus the Great Darius I Xerxes

http://robotchicken.wikia.com/wiki/1776

Persian Military• Military was the key in

building the worlds first superpower

• Used Cavalry and Chariots– Chariots were unique because

the were pulled by four horses– Also carried archers who

pelted foes with arrows from a distance

• Supported by highly trained troops called the Immortals

Theme 2: Religion• Zoroastrianism– Based on the teachings of Zoroaster

• God = Ahura Mazda– God was the source of everything good, true and pure in the

world.

• Evil spirit = Ahriman– Spirits were locked in eternal struggle against each other

– Dualism• First religion to believe that the world is controlled by two

opposing forces, good and evil• Believed that good would eventually win and rid the

world of evil

– Polytheistic with an emphasis on Ahura Mazda – Avesta, the sacred text of Zoroastrianism

Theme 3: Writing

• Branch of Indo European Languages• Old Persian Cuneiform• Written and spoken language

Theme 4: Math and Science• The Royal Road, the world’s first long highway.

It stretched more than 1,500 miles and linked major cities

• Roads built for faster communication and the moving of military forces

Theme 5: Art• The Persians were also widely admired for

their art. They crafted delicate drinking vessels out of gold set with precious gems. – Many of these golden objects are shaped like

animals, such as lions and bulls. Animals were a common subject in Persian art.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/08/iran-archaeology/iran-photography

• Many archaeologists consider Persepolis (capital) the greatest example of Persian architecture.

• Designed as a ceremonial city by Darius I, the entire city of Persepolis was a monument to Persia’s glory.

• At the center of the city was a high-ceilinged audience hall unlike anything else in the

Ancient Near East.

Audience Hall

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/08/iran-archaeology/iran-photography

Theme 6: Trade

• Coin money issued• Encouraged trade

by building roads throughout the Persian Empire

• As a result of this increased trade, the empire grew richer.