Bard Global History - Assyrian and Persian Empire

7/30/2019 Bard Global History - Assyrian and Persian Empire

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Egypt

Old Kingdom (2686 2181 bce)

Middle Kingdom (2134 1690 bce)

New Kingdom (1549 1069 bce)

First Intermediate Period (2181 1991 bce)

Second Intermediate Period (1674 1549 bce)

*Hyksos, or Rulers of Foreign lands

*Ahmose, Hathsepsut, Akhenhaten, Rameses I - III


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Assyria and Achaemenid Persia: Two Models of Empire

Assyrian Empire Achaemenid Empire

c. 934 609 BCE c. 550 - 330 BCE


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Map of Assyria and Surrounding Civilizations

Assur


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Assyrian relief, c. 800 BCE Assyrian tribute bearer, c. 700 BCE

ivory/bone, 5 5/16in


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Assyrian, Procession of Captives, c. 700

BCE stone, 16 x 15 in.

Assyrian, Procession of Captives, c. 660BCE

stone, 20 x 18 in.


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Assyrian relief, hunters in a chariot, c. 800 BCE

Assyrian, Cavalrymen along a Stream, c.

700 BCE

stone, 20 x 33 in.


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Assyrian, Cavalrymen along a Stream, c.

700 BCE stone, 20 x 33 in.

Assyrian, Armor plate, c. 700 BCE IRON, 2

x 3 in.


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Assyrian, Youth Thrusting a Sword, c. 700

BCE ivory, 1.38 x 1.65 in.


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Persian Empire: Major Rulers and Their Capitals

Ruler

Cyrus [reign: roughly 546 529 bce]

City

Pasargadae

Cambyses [reign: 529 522 bce] Susa

Darius [reign: 521 486 bce] Persepolis


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Persepolis


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Persian Empire: Internal Harmony and Unification

Satrapie :: Persia as Nomarch :: Egypt

Satrap :: Persia as Nome :: Egypt


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Religion: Zoroastrianism, founded by the prophet Zoroaster

Central Deity: Ahura Mazda

Creation myth of Zoroastrianism: both man and woman emerge from plant,

with same features.

Possible link to [relative] gender equality seen in the empire?

Women on record as receiving equal types of employment, equal wages.


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"I am Cyrus, king of the world, great king, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of the land of

Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, son of Cambyses, great king, king of Anshan,grandson of Cyrus, great king, king of Anshan, descendant of Teispes, great king, king of

Anshan, progeny of an unending royal line, whose rule Bel and Nabu cherish, whose kingship

they desire for their hearts' pleasures.

When I, well-disposed, entered Babylon, I established the seat of government in the royal

palace amidst jubilation and rejoicing. Marduk, the great God, caused the big-heartedinhabitants of Babylon to...me. I sought daily to worship him. My numerous troops moved about

undisturbed in the midst of Babylon.

I did not allow any to terrorize the land of Sumer and Akkad. I kept in view the needs of Babylon

and all its sanctuaries to promote their well-being. The citizens of Babylon ... I lifted their

unbecoming yoke. Their dilapidated dwellings I restored. I put an end to their misfortunes.

I strove for peace in Babylon and in all his [other] sacred cities. As to the inhabitants of

Babylon ... I abolished forced labour ... From Nineveh, Assur and Susa, Akkad, Eshnunna,

Zamban, Me-Turnu and Der until the region of Gutium, I returned to these sacred cities on

the other side of the Tigris, the sanctuaries of which have been ruins for a long time, the

images which [used] to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I [also]

gathered all their [former] inhabitants and returned [to them] their habitations.


Charter of the Rights of Nations


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Saith Darius, the king:

Thereupon that Phraortes fled thence with a few horsemen to a district in

Media named Raga. Then did I send the army against them. Phraortes was

taken and brought unto me. I cut off his nose, and his ears, and his tongue,

and I put out his eyes, and he was kept in fetters in my court, and all thepeople beheld him. Then did I crucify him in Ecbatana, and the men who

were his chief followers I imprisoned in the stronghold in Ecbatana.

-Darius the Great, from the

Rock of Bishtun

While I was in Persia and in Media, the Babylonians revolted from me a second tim

While I was in Babylon, these provinces revolted from me: Persia, Susiana,

Media, Assyria, Egypt, Parthia, Margiana, Sattagydia, and Scythia.

Persian Empire: Internal Discord and Rebellion


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Bard Global History - Assyrian and Persian Empire