The Persian EmpireWorld History I

PowerPoint Presentation

The Rise of Persia

• The Assyrian Empire was overthrown in 612 BC

• Persia began to conquer other local kingdoms

• The Persians become prosperous through the trade of minerals and precious metals like copper, lead, gold, and silver.

Cyrus the Great

• In 550 BC Cyrus began to conquer several neighboring kingdoms.

• Cyrus was a military genius and ruled with kindness, giving people in his empire a level of religious tolerance.

• Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, ending their slavery in Babylon.

• Under Cyrus’ rule the empire stretched over 2000 miles from India to Anatolia.

• Cyrus died in 530 BC leaving his son to take charge.

Cambyses’ Rule

• Cyrus’s son took the throne and continued to expand the empire.

• He expanded the borders of Persia to include the land of Egypt.

• He did not share his father’s kindness and religious tolerance and persecuted the Egyptian faith

• He died 8 years after taking the throne leaving the Persian Empire weak and fragile.

Darius I • Darius seizes the throne in 522 • He spends the first years of his reign putting down

revolts• Darius appoints satraps, or local governors, that are in

charge of the military and tax collection.• He also expands the empire to include modern day

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of India.• His only failure was the inability to conquer Greece

(Persian Wars)• Darius also builds roads that expedite communication

and trade• He borrows the concept of coined money from the

Lydians and trade flourishes

Zoroaster

• Persian prophet who lived around 600 BC– Key Teachings

• The Earth is a battleground between good and evil• Belief in one god named Ahura Mazda• Everyone will be judged based on how well they

fought for good– Legacies

• Religion is still practiced today in parts of Iran and India

• Traces of religion can be found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam– Concept of Satan– Angels

Items for MasteryStudents should know and understand the following:

People-

Cyrus

Darius

Zoroaster

Places and terms

Susa

Satraps

Royal Roads