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Part II: The Formation of Classical Societies, 500 BCE to 500 CE
• What is meant by “Classical Societies”?
• Where?
• Other Hallmarks of the Period:
Chapter 7
The Empires of Persia
Chapter 7, The Empires of Persia
• The Achaemenid Empire • The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires
• Imperial Society and Economy – Social Development in Classical Persia – Economic Foundations of Classical Persia
• Religions of Salvation in Classical Persian Society – Zarathustra and His Faith – Religions of Salvation in a Cosmopolitan Society
Persian Empires
• Contemporary Iran • Four major dynasties
– Achaemenids (558330 BCE) – Seleucids (323283 BCE) – Parthians (247 BCE224 CE) – Sasanids (224651 CE)
The Persian Empire, 538 330 B.C.E.
• Medes and Persians – IndoEuropean nomads from Central Asia who settled in Iran before 1000 BCE
• Capitalized on weakening Assyrian and Babylonian empires
• Achaemenids
Achaemenid Empire (558330 BCE)
• Cyrus “the Great,” r. 558530 BCE, founder of the Persian Empire – “Cyrus the Shepherd” – Defeated Iran, Anatolia, and then Neo Babylonians
– Title (by 539 BCE): • King of All, Great King, Mighty King, King of Babylon, King of the Land of Sumer and Akkad, King of the Four Rims (of the Earth), the Son of Cambyses the Great King, King of Anshan.
– Allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem
The Persian Empire, 558 330 BCE
• Cambyses II, r. 530522 BCE – Conquered Egypt in 525 B.C.; title of Pharaoh
• Darius I, r. 521486 BCE – Peak of the Persian Empire
• Ruled from the Indus to the Aegean – Capital at Persepolis
Achaemenid Administration • 23 Administrative divisions (Satrapies, Provinces)
– Each pay tribute, taxes, and labor • Administrative heads= Satraps
– Satraps were Persian, but staff principally local • System of spies, surprise audits
– Minimized possibilities of local rebellion • Professional Army
– 10,000 Immortals – Navy
• Technologies: – Coinage – Underground canals (qanat) – Massive road building
• Royal Road • courier services
• War against Greece – Ionian Greek rebellion, 499494 BCE – Invasion of Greece, 490 BCE
Darius’ Inscription at Behistun
The Later Persian Empire, 558 330 BCE
• Xerxes, r. 486465 BCE – Second War against Greece, 480479 BCE
• Darius III, last Persian king, defeated by ___________________, 331 BCE
After the Persian Empire
• Successor Empires: – Seleucid Empire – Parthian Empire – Sasanid Empire
• All copied the Achaemenid administrative structure
Seleucid Empire, 32383 BCE • Alexander the Great conquered the Achaemenid Empire (334331 BCE)
• Alexander the Great died suddenly • Generals divided empire
– Biggest part went to Seleucus (r. 305281 BCE) – B & Z describe it as the “choicest realm”; was it?
The Achaemenid and Selucid empires, 55883 BCE
Seleucid Empire, 32383 BCE • Achaemenid Legacy:
– System of administration and taxation – Roads, postal service
• New Cities • New Colonists from Greece • Faced revolts from local [Persian] satraps • Lost holdings in the East to Parthian invaders in 3 rd century BCE
Parthian Empire, 247 BCE224 CE • Seminomadic invaders from the steppes of central Asia
• Drove the Seleucids out of Iran in 3 rd century BCE
• Federated governmental structure • Especially strong cavalry • Weakened by ongoing wars with Romans
• Fell to internal rebellion
The Parthian and Sasanid empires, 247 BCE651 CE
Sasanid Empire, 224651 CE • Sasanids claimed descent from the Achaemenids
• Continual conflicts with Rome & Byzantium in the west, Kushans in the east
• Overwhelmed by Arab conquest in 651 CE
• Persian administration and culture absorbed into local Islamic culture
Persian Economy • Several areas exceptionally fertile • Longdistance trade benefits from Persian roadbuilding
• Goods from India especially valued
Zoroastrianism • Early Aryan influences on Persian religious traditions
• Prophet Zarathustra (late 7 th early 6 th c. BCE)
• Dualistic Religion: – Ahura Mazda (“Wise Lord”) – Beneficient Spirit; “Truth”
– Angra Mainyu (also known as Ahriman) – “The Hostile Spirit;” “The Lie”
• Oral teachings until Sasanid period composed Gathas (“Songs”), part of the Zend Avesta
Zoroastrianism • Struggle between good and evil • Belief in angels, a savior, and fiery judgment day
• Moral teachings • Priests – Magi • Religion changed over the centuries
– Importance of lesser gods, such as Mithra, the Sungod
• Influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Persian Religion: Zoroastrianism
• Zoroaster on Good and Evil
In the beginning, there were two Primal Spirits, Twins spontaneously active; These are the Good and the Evil, in thought, and in word and in deed; Between these two, let the wise choose aright; Be good, not base.
-- The Divine Songs of Zarathustra
See Bentley & Ziegler, p. 176
Fortunes of Zoroastrianism
• Under Alexander: – Massacre of Magi – Zoroastrian temples burned
• Weak Parthian support for Zoroastrianism • Major revival under Sasanids
– Persecution of nonZoroastrians • Discrimination under Islam