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EMPIRES of PERSIA EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the The rise and fall of the Persian Empires Persian Empires

EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

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Page 1: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

EMPIRES of PERSIAEMPIRES of PERSIA

The rise and fall of the Persian The rise and fall of the Persian EmpiresEmpires

Page 2: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

The Achaemenid EmpireThe Achaemenid Empire

Medes and Persians migrated from central Asia Medes and Persians migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000 B.C.E.to Persia before 1000 B.C.E.– Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with

AryansAryans– Challenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empiresChallenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empires

Page 3: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Cyrus the Achaemenid (the Cyrus the Achaemenid (the shepherd) (reigned 558-530 shepherd) (reigned 558-530 B.C.EB.C.E.).)

Became king of Persian Became king of Persian

tribes in 558 B.C.E.tribes in 558 B.C.E. All of Iran under hisAll of Iran under his

control by 548 B.C.E.control by 548 B.C.E. Established a vastEstablished a vast

empire from India toempire from India to

borders of Egyptborders of Egypt

Page 4: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Cyrus’s son CambysesCyrus’s son Cambysesreigned 530-522 B.C.E.reigned 530-522 B.C.E.

Page 5: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Darius (reigned 521-486Darius (reigned 521-486B.C.EB.C.E.).)largest extent of empire; largest extent of empire;

population 35 millionpopulation 35 million

Diverse empire, Diverse empire,

seventy ethnic groupsseventy ethnic groups

New capital at PersepolisNew capital at Persepolis

520 520 B.C.EB.C.E..

Page 6: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Achaemenid administrationAchaemenid administration

23 satrapies (Persian governors), appointed 23 satrapies (Persian governors), appointed by central governmentby central government

Local officials were from local populationLocal officials were from local population Satraps’ power was checked by military Satraps’ power was checked by military

officers and imperial spiesofficers and imperial spies Replaced irregular tribute payments with Replaced irregular tribute payments with

formal taxesformal taxes

Page 7: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Standardization of coins and lawsStandardization of coins and laws Communication systems: Persian Royal Communication systems: Persian Royal

Road and postal stationsRoad and postal stations

Page 8: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Xerxes (reigned 486-465Xerxes (reigned 486-465B.C.EB.C.E.).)

Retreated from the policy of Retreated from the policy of cultural tolerationcultural toleration

Caused ill will and rebellions Caused ill will and rebellions among the peoples in among the peoples in Mesopotamia and EgyptMesopotamia and Egypt

Page 9: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Decline and fall of Decline and fall of Achaemenid EmpireAchaemenid Empire

Commonwealth: law, justice, administration Commonwealth: law, justice, administration led to political stability and public worksled to political stability and public works

Page 10: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

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

Rebellion of Ionian GreeksRebellion of Ionian Greeks Persian rulers failed to put down the Persian rulers failed to put down the

rebellion, sparred for 150 yearsrebellion, sparred for 150 years

Page 11: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Alexander of Macedon invaded Alexander of Macedon invaded Persia in 334 Persia in 334 B.C.EB.C.E..

Battle of Gaugamela, the end of the Battle of Gaugamela, the end of the Achaemenid empire , in 331 Achaemenid empire , in 331 B.C.E.B.C.E.

Alexander burns the city of PersepolisAlexander burns the city of Persepolis

Page 12: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid

EmpiresEmpires

Seleucus inherited most of Achaemenid Seleucus inherited most of Achaemenid when Alexander diedwhen Alexander died– Retained the Achaemenid system of Retained the Achaemenid system of

administrationadministration– Opposition from native Persians; lost control Opposition from native Persians; lost control

over northern India and Iranover northern India and Iran

Page 13: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

The Parthians, based in Iran, extend to The Parthians, based in Iran, extend to MesopotamiaMesopotamia

– Power of Parthian wasPower of Parthian was

heavy cavalryheavy cavalry– Mithradates I establishedMithradates I established

an empire through an empire through

conquests from 171-155 conquests from 171-155 B.C.E.B.C.E.

– Parthian government Parthian government

followed the example offollowed the example of

Achaemenid administrationAchaemenid administration

Page 14: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

The Sasanids, from Persia, toppled The Sasanids, from Persia, toppled Parthians; ruled 224-651 C.E.Parthians; ruled 224-651 C.E.– Merchants brought in various crops from India Merchants brought in various crops from India

and Chinaand China– Shapur I (239-272 C.E.); buffer states with Shapur I (239-272 C.E.); buffer states with

Romans; standoff with KushanRomans; standoff with Kushan– In 651 C.E., empire incorporated into Islamic In 651 C.E., empire incorporated into Islamic

empireempire

Page 15: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Imperial Society and EconomyImperial Society and Economy

Social development in classical PersiaSocial development in classical Persia– Nomadic society, importance of family and clan Nomadic society, importance of family and clan

relationshipsrelationships

Imperial bureaucratsImperial bureaucrats– Imperial administration called for educated bureaucratsImperial administration called for educated bureaucrats– Shared power and influence with warriors and clan Shared power and influence with warriors and clan

leadersleaders

Page 16: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Free classes were bulk of Persian societyFree classes were bulk of Persian society– In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil

servantsservants– In the countryside: peasants built In the countryside: peasants built

underground canalsunderground canals

Large class of slaves who were prisoners of Large class of slaves who were prisoners of war and debtorswar and debtors

Page 17: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Economical foundations of classical PersiaEconomical foundations of classical Persia– Agriculture was economic foundationAgriculture was economic foundation– Trade from India to EgyptTrade from India to Egypt

Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, and Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, and banksbanks

Specialization of production in different regionsSpecialization of production in different regions

Page 18: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Religions of salvation in classical Religions of salvation in classical Persian societyPersian society

Zorathustra and his faithZorathustra and his faith– ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Emerged from theEmerged from the

teachings of Zarathustrateachings of Zarathustra

Page 19: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Visions: supreme god (Ahura Mazda) made Visions: supreme god (Ahura Mazda) made Zarathustra prophetZarathustra prophet

The The GathasGathas, Zarathustra’s, Zarathustra’s hymns in honor of deitieshymns in honor of deities Teachings preserved laterTeachings preserved later in writing, by in writing, by magimagi Compilation of holy Compilation of holy scriptures, Avesta, scriptures, Avesta, under Sasanid dynastyunder Sasanid dynasty

Page 20: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Zoroastrian teachingsZoroastrian teachings

– Ahura Mazda as aAhura Mazda as a

supreme deity, with supreme deity, with

6 lesser deities6 lesser deities– Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda (good) Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda (good)

and Angra Mainyu (evil)and Angra Mainyu (evil)– Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward

and punishmentand punishment– The material world as a blessingThe material world as a blessing– Moral formula: good words, good thoughts, Moral formula: good words, good thoughts,

good deedsgood deeds

Page 21: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Popularity of Zoroastrianism grows from Popularity of Zoroastrianism grows from sixth century B.C.E.sixth century B.C.E.– Attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elitesAttracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites– Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme GodDarius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God– Most popular in Iran; followings in Most popular in Iran; followings in

Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and moreMesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and more

Page 22: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Religions of salvation in a cosmopolitan Religions of salvation in a cosmopolitan societysociety

– Suffering of Zoroastrian community during Suffering of Zoroastrian community during Alexander’s invasionAlexander’s invasion

– Officially sponsored Zoroastrianism during the Officially sponsored Zoroastrianism during the Sasanid empireSasanid empire

– The Zoroastrian’ difficultiesThe Zoroastrian’ difficulties Islamic conquerors toppled the Sasanid empire, Islamic conquerors toppled the Sasanid empire,

seventh century B.C.E.seventh century B.C.E. Some Zoroastrians fled to India (Parsis)Some Zoroastrians fled to India (Parsis) Most Zoroastrians converted to IslamMost Zoroastrians converted to Islam Some Zoroastrians still exist in modern-day IranSome Zoroastrians still exist in modern-day Iran

Page 23: EMPIRES of PERSIA The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christianity, and later IslamChristianity, and later Islam

Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism, Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism, Judaism also in PersiaJudaism also in Persia