The Empire of Persia

Objectives:

•Explain rise of Persian Empire•Discuss accomplishmentsUnder Cyrus and Darius•Begin classical India

10/26 10/27

The empire spanned over 2,000 miles.

Persia, led by King Cyrus, began to build his empire in 550 BCE. Persia would conquer most of the Fertile Crescent, Egypt and Anatolia. Persia is located in present-day Iran.

Cyrus was a military genius

•Armies included archers on horseback

•Conquered the entire Fertile Crescent and most of Anatolia

Cyrus was most well known for how he treated conquered people.

He showed kindness and his armies refrained from looting and burning

Cyrus became well respected by honoring local customs and religions insteadof trying to destroy them.

Under the Persian Empire, conquered citizens enjoyed freedom.

Jews who had been deported fromtheir homeland to Babylon were allowed to return to Jerusalem.

Cyrus the Great

The Iranians regarded him as “The Father.”The Jews regarded him as “The Anointed Of the Lord”

Monument to Cyrus in Sydney, Australia

The Persians, under Cyrus:

•Advanced iron technology

•Developed a new religion – Zorastrianism

•Art flourished

Cyrus died in 530 BCE

Tomb of Cyrus the Great

•founded by a Persian prophet named Zoroaster who lived around 600 BC.

•Supreme deity wasAhuramazda or “Wise Lord”

•People must choose thebetween right and wrong. The right way is the way of Ahuramazda.

Zorastrianism

Zorastrian beliefs:

•A person’s soul faced judgement based on actions.

•Two spiritual armies, good and evil, fought for a person’s soul. Two opposing forces in the universe.

Does this sound similar to any other religion?

Ahuramazda

Zorastrianism was uniquely Persianand did not spread. But, many historians believe it influenced Christianity.

Cyrus’ son ruled for a short while and was overthrown by Darius. Darius:

•Built the royal road system – 1,677 miles from Sardis to Susa

•Expanded empire into India and present-day Afghanistan

•Imperial bureaucracy was well-organized. -Divided the kingdom into 20

provinces -Installed governors in each province called Satraps-Appointed inspectors to check on

the Satraps they were the “King’s Eyes and

Ears”-Began using standardized metal

coins

Tomb of King Darius

The Persian Empirewould eventuallyfall to Alexander the Great Of Macedonia

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