The Sassanid Persian Empire

Abigail, Cayla, Ellen, Kimberlee, Misha, and Regan

Origins of The Sassanid Persian Empire ● It is the fourth Iranian Dynasty, and the second Persian

Empire.

● In 224 Ardashir I defeated Artabanus IV, the last Arsacid king, and started expanding his own small territory into neighboring provinces, eventually choking out the Parthian Empire and establishing the Sassanid Empire.

● He was crowned in 226 as the sole ruler of Persia, and he took the title Shahanshah, or "King of Kings. (This is an allusion to the first Persian Empire)

Origins of The Sassanid Persian Empire

● Ardashir I placed the first capital south of Persis, and it was named Ardashir-Khwarrah, which meant The Glory of Ardashır.

● The city was circular and was easily defendable because of the high mountains around it and narrow passages were the only access. It was also surrounded by a large circular wall. This and parts of a palace are still standing today.

Government Structure

● Emperors held the title Shahanshah (King of Kings)

● Monarchy typically heredity, if no direct heir was available, nobles and

prelates chose a member of the royal families

● Coins would have image of ruler on them

● Territories were ruled by Shahrdar. Members of Royal Family, directly

answered to Shahanshah.

Government continued • Priests had very close relations with kings

•High Priest holds position of power in the courts

•Shahansha guarded the sacred fire, symbolizing national religion

•Below the king, the next power was the bureaucracy

•Bureaucracy dealt with many government affairs

•Head of bureaucracy was vuzorg farmadar

•Nobility made up of Partian clans, noble families, and Persian Aristocrat families

Legal System•Courts of justice were found at all levels

•Found in every rural area, city, and district

•lawsuits tried by the high priest or the judicial process or by ordeal(war)

•complaints and pleas recorde in a document and sealed and signed by both parties

•After analyzing parties, the judge fixed the time of the trial

•both parties had right to appeal

•If appealed to a junior judge, case will be taken to a higher court

Legal system continued•Judge handed copy of trial minutes and decision to archivist

•If accused is acquitted, receives a deed of acquittal

•Any capital offense put into judicial records

•On some cases of obstruction, the party of obstructors payed sum of money or land

• If there is a harsh verdict, the accused good deed would be set against his/her demerits

•If demerits are outweighed, accused would not be punished

Religious Beliefs ● The major religion of The Sassanid Persian Empire was Zoroastrianism.

● Zoroastrianism was edited by the Sassanid clery, which caused religious uneasiness among other followers of the faith

● Zoroastrian priests were very powerful within the government

● Buddhism, Christianity, and Judaism also existed within the empire, and followers were free to practice their beliefs (but were not always treated equal)

● Persian Christians were accused (falsely) of sympathizing with the Roman enemy, but the two versions of Christianity had many differences.

Major Cities Ctesiphon

● Ctesiphon was the later capital of the Sassanid Persian Empire.● Was built on the site where an older town, known as Opis, once stood. ● Little is known about what life was like inside the city.

○ All writings written by contemporaries are nowhere to be found.● Located about twenty miles away from the Tigris River.

Derbent (present day)

● City built between two parallel walls, also known as a Citadel.● Walls created a barrier from the seashore and mountains.● Northern lines for Sassanid Persian Empire.

Economy❏ The Sassanids dominated international trade in the Indian

Ocean, Central Asia, and South Russia. Competition for trade with the Byzantines was sometimes intense.

❏ Settlements in Oman and Yemen were an important part of trade with India. Although one the Sassanids main trade was silk with China.

❏ Good roads and bridges, well patrolled, enabled state post and merchant caravans to link Ctesiphon with all provinces; and harbors were built in the Persian Gulf to quicken trade with India

❏ Main exports are silk, woolen and golden textile, carpets and rugs, skin, leather, and pearls from the Persian Gulf.

Economy (continued)

❏ Khosrau I further extended the already vast trade network.

The Sassanid state now tended toward monopolistic control

of trade, with luxury goods assuming a far greater role in

the trade than heretofore, and the great activity in building

of ports, caravanserais, bridges, and the like was linked to

trade and urbanization.

❏ The Sassanids used special labels on goods that showed the

quality of certain goods. Also used to promote their

company.

Spread of the Empire ➢ second emperor Shapur I extended empire into what is

now Pakistan & northwestern India➢ this spread cultural & political practices to Kushan

territories but the Kushans did not accept their religious practices as their own

➢ things like chess, backgammon, & literature made its way into Kushan life, much of which was later used in the Islamic world

➢ Persian methods of warfare spread to the Roman Empire as well as some ceremonial & political practices

➢ after the fall of the empire, Zoroastrians were persecuted & chose to emigrate more into India where they were granted religious freedom & their descendants known as Parsis continued to practice & spread Zoroastrianism & still do to this day

Reasons for Collapse ● Khosrow II overtaxed the people and expanded too much which caused

the empire to weaken significantly.

● After Khosrow II was assassinated, 12 different kings took power in 14 years

● The persians didn’t have enough time to recover before Arabs started attacking all over the empire.

● Lasted until 651 CE, when it was overthrown by the Arab Caliphate

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