PERSIAN EMPIRESociety

Persian Classical Society• Persian society origins= plains of central Asia• Family/clan relationships=important in political & social

affairs• Male warriors=heads of the clans

• Diverse empire complicated this structure

Persian Classical Society• Imperial administration= new class of educated officials

• Undermined old warrior elite• Cities were home to administrators, tax collectors, record

keepers, translators, and high ranking officials

Persian Classical Society• Clan Leaders and Officials• Artisans• Craftsman• Merchants• Priests and Priestesses• Low ranking civil servants• Slaves

Women in Persian Society• Married women and women of royalty= respected

• Some ruled• Some were merchants and business leaders

• When the Romans captured Persian soldiers, some were women

Technological Developments• Qanat – underground canals allowed cultivators to

distribute water to fields w/out losing large quantities to evaporation through exposure to the sun and open air• Maintained by slaves and laborers in the countryside

Technological Developments• Agriculture=foundation

• Resources helped Persia prosper• Barley and wheat= common crops

• Beer and wine= common beverage

Economic Developments• Long-distance trade grew rapidly

• Standardized coins• Good trade routes• New constructed highways= Persian Royal Road• Sea routes through the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea

Trade• From India: gold, ivory, aromatics• From Iran and Central Asia: lapis lazuli, turquoise and

other stones• From Mesopotamia: textiles, mirrors and jewelry• From Anatolia: gold, silver, iron, copper and tin• From Arabia: spices and aromatics• From Egypt: grain, linen textiles, papyrus writing

materials, gold, ebony, ivory• From Greece: oil, wine, and ceramics

Persian Religion= Zoroastrianism • Celebrated natural elements and geographical features

• the sun, the moon, the water, and especially fire• Priests performed sacrifices similar to those in India• Used hallucinogenic agents

Persian Religion • Attempt to address moral questions• Priest from aristocratic family, left to seek wisdom

• Experienced visions• Convinced that the supreme god had chosen him as a prophet to

spread message

Quick Review• What group of ppl replaced the warrior elite?

• How were women viewed in Persian society?

• What were some Persian technological developments?

• Explain Zoroastrianism…

Activity: Persian Short Story• Partners= at least 3 paragraphs• Persian creative short story• Create characters, get them in INTERESTING

SITUATIONS, be accurate when referring to Persian social life• i.e. social classes, gender, jobs, technology, religion, etc…