The Rise of New Empires

By:

Group 5 — Matthew Ballweg

AssyriansA Semitic-speaking people who exploited the use of iron

weapons to establish an empire by 700 B.C.

NebuchadnezzarChaldean king that made Babylonia the leading

state in Western Asia after the collapse of the Assyrian Empire.

PersiansIndo-Europeans who lived in what is today southwestern Iran. Primarily nomadic, the

Persians were eventually unified by one family.

CyrusMember of the Persian family that created a powerful Persian state that stretched from Asia Minor to India. Ruled from 559 B.C. to 530 B.C.

DariusRuled from 521 B.C. to 486 B.C. Added a new

Persian province in western India and then conquered Thrace in Europe.

SatrapiesDarius strengthened the Persian government by

dividing the empire into 20 provinces called satrapies.

SatrapA governor of each province

Royal RoadRoad that stretched from Lydia to Susa, the empire’s

chief capital. Officials could easily travel on this road and roads similar to this road.

ImmortalsThe Persian army’s cavalry force and elite infantry

force. Known as Immortals because whenever a member was killed, he was replaced immediately.

MonarchyPersian rule by a king or queen.

ZoroastrianismThe Persian’s religion. Named after their religious

leader, Zoroaster who was born in 660 B.C.