The Fall of the Second Babylonian Empire The second Babylonian empire came under attack and was defeated by the Persians, who were led by Cyrus the Great,

The Fall of the Second Babylonian Empire

•The second Babylonian empire came under attack and was defeated by the Persians, who were led by Cyrus the Great, in 539 BC.

•The Persians built the largest empire the Fertile Crescent has ever known.

Aim: How did the Persians build and Aim: How did the Persians build and maintain a tremendous empire?maintain a tremendous empire?

Who were the important leaders?Who were the important leaders?

What were their contributions to history?What were their contributions to history?

Aim: How did the Persians build and maintain a tremendous

empire?Do Now: Matching Review

The Rise of PersiaThe Rise of Persia

• The Persians based their empire on The Persians based their empire on tolerance and diplomacy. They relied tolerance and diplomacy. They relied on a strong military to back up their on a strong military to back up their policies. Ancient Persia is where policies. Ancient Persia is where Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India and Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India and many other countries are todaymany other countries are today..

Cyrus Cyrus the the

GreatGreat

CyrusCyrus’’s Empires Empire• 550 BC – Conquered several neighboring 550 BC – Conquered several neighboring

kingdomskingdoms• Military geniusMilitary genius• Controlled an empire spanning 2000 milesControlled an empire spanning 2000 miles• Kindness toward conquered peopleKindness toward conquered people• Honored local customs and religionsHonored local customs and religions• 538 BC - Allowed the Jews to return to 538 BC - Allowed the Jews to return to

their homeland, Jerusalem their homeland, Jerusalem • Considered by the Jews to be one of GodConsidered by the Jews to be one of God’’s s

anointed onesanointed ones

Tolerance !!!Tolerance !!!

• Cyrus use the idea of tolerance to keep the peace Cyrus use the idea of tolerance to keep the peace and to seem like a liberator.and to seem like a liberator.

• He allowed people to keep their local customs He allowed people to keep their local customs and religions.and religions.

• He showed kindness toward conquered peoplesHe showed kindness toward conquered peoples



Primary SourcePrimary Source• ““This is the word of Cyrus king of Persia: The This is the word of Cyrus king of Persia: The

Lord, God of heaven has given me all the Lord, God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he himself has charged kingdoms of the earth, and he himself has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. To me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. To every man of his people now among you I say, every man of his people now among you I say, God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord God of in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord God of Israel, the God whose city is Jerusalem.Israel, the God whose city is Jerusalem.””

• What type of ruler was Cyrus based on this quote?What type of ruler was Cyrus based on this quote?

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Built Persepolis.

He extended the

Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)

Built a canal in Egypt.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Established a tax-

collecting system.

Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES.

Built the great Royal Road system.

Established a complex postal system.

Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

PERSEPOLISPERSEPOLIS

• 518 BCE 518 BCE • King Darius utilized King Darius utilized

influences and influences and materials from all over materials from all over his empire, which his empire, which included Babylon, included Babylon, Egypt, Mesopotamian Egypt, Mesopotamian and Greeceand Greece

PERSEPOLISPERSEPOLIS

• At the height of the At the height of the Persian Empire it Persian Empire it stretched from India to stretched from India to AfricaAfrica

• Persia today is known Persia today is known as Iranas Iran

• The city included The city included extensive use of extensive use of columnscolumns

The People of Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

Ancient PersepolisAncient Persepolis

PersepolisPersepolis

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

• Persian Persian ReligionReligion

• MonotheismMonotheism

• Good went to Good went to HeavenHeaven

• Bad went to Bad went to HellHell

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:

Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words



“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Extent of Zoroastrianism



The Royal RoadThe Royal Road• 1,677 miles long1,677 miles long• 111 relay stations111 relay stations• Other smaller roads branched off the Other smaller roads branched off the

royal roadroyal road• The entire royal road could be traveled The entire royal road could be traveled

in a week by a horsemenin a week by a horsemen• Caravans took about a monthCaravans took about a month

Persian “Royal Road”Persian “Royal Road”



How would the royal road enable a ruler How would the royal road enable a ruler to maintain power in the empire?to maintain power in the empire?

DariusDarius

Darius the GreatDarius the Great

• Member of the kingMember of the king’’s body guards body guard

• Overthrew the king in 522 BCOverthrew the king in 522 BC

• Took power and created a well-organized Took power and created a well-organized efficient governmentefficient government

• Brought peace and stabilityBrought peace and stability

• Expanded the empire by 500 milesExpanded the empire by 500 miles

• But could not conquer GreeceBut could not conquer Greece

TheThePersianPersian WarsWars

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Battle of MarathonBattle of MarathonThe Athenians had won at Marathon but they certainly had not destroyed the Persian army. They had made plans before the battle that if they won, they would get word back to Athens as soon as possible because they knew that the Persian fleet was sure to sail around Attica and attempt to take the city while it was undefended. The citizens were to man the walls and make it appear that Athens was strongly defended.

Marathon part 1Marathon part 1

Marathon part 2Marathon part 2

MarathonMarathon

Phaedippas

Miltiades sent a young soldier (probably Phaedippas) to take word back to Athens. He ran the entire distance, 42.192 kms, shouted "We have won!" and fell dead of exhaustion. In memory of this event the Marathon Run was included among the contests since the first contemporary Olympic Games.

Result of the 1Result of the 1stst Persian War Persian War

Darius Lost!Darius Lost!

Persia Continued to Persia Continued to lose its power to lose its power to

expandexpand

XerxesXerxes• Became a DictatorBecame a Dictator

• Did not follow Darius or Cyrus and Did not follow Darius or Cyrus and was not tolerantwas not tolerant

• Wanted to conquer Greece at all costWanted to conquer Greece at all cost

Second Second Persian Persian

WarWar

Battle of ThermopylaeBattle of Thermopylae• It means the It means the ““HOT GATESHOT GATES””

• 300 Spartans held off 1 million troops of the Persian 300 Spartans held off 1 million troops of the Persian EmpireEmpire

• Was really a delaying action to stall the Persians so that Was really a delaying action to stall the Persians so that Athens could be evacuated.Athens could be evacuated.

• Tactical advantage because of choke point in the terrain.Tactical advantage because of choke point in the terrain.

ThermopylaeThermopylae

The ImmortalsThe Immortals• XerxesXerxes’’s best troops s best troops

in the Persian army.in the Persian army.

• Supposed to be Supposed to be invincible.invincible.

• Spartans proved Spartans proved otherwise.otherwise.

The Persians eventually Broke The Persians eventually Broke ThroughThrough

• After killing the 300 Spartans the Persians Marched After killing the 300 Spartans the Persians Marched on Athenson Athens

• Athens was deserted; evacuated to the Island of Athens was deserted; evacuated to the Island of SalamisSalamis

• The Athenians forced a naval battle in the Bay of The Athenians forced a naval battle in the Bay of SalamisSalamis

Greek TriremeGreek Trireme

Battle of SalamisBattle of Salamis

Battle of SalamisBattle of Salamis

• Persians were bottlenecked in the small Persians were bottlenecked in the small bay of Salamisbay of Salamis

• They could not maneuverThey could not maneuver

• The smaller Greek Ships destroyed the The smaller Greek Ships destroyed the Persian fleet.Persian fleet.

Result of the 2nd Persian WarResult of the 2nd Persian War

Xerxes Lost!Xerxes Lost!

Persia had to retreat home Persia had to retreat home in failure. Never again did in failure. Never again did

Persia expand.Persia expand.

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

• Macedonian (Greek) King that laid the Macedonian (Greek) King that laid the final death blow to the Persian Empire final death blow to the Persian Empire and conquered it.and conquered it.

In November 333, Alexander the Great and his trusted general Parmenion defeatedthe Persian king Darius III

Codomannus on the uneven coastal plain south of Issus.





“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”

Documents

The Fall of the Second Babylonian Empire The second Babylonian empire came under attack and was defeated by the Persians, who were led by Cyrus the Great,