Achaemenid Persian EmpireKrzysztof Nawotka

Persian empire

Rise of Persia 1Indoeuropean Aryans formed in stepps to the north of Black Sea and Caspian SeaCa. 2000 BC: conquest of India and IranIn Iran: nomadic and semi-nomadic society3 classes: priests, warriors, producers (i.e. peasants)Clans, tribes and countries (dahyu)

Rise of Persia 2Various Iranian states: Manna, Medes, Parsua (Zagros and Fars)Trade with Babylonia and Assyria (Great Khorasan Road: forrunner of Silk Road)From 9th c. BC Assyrian inroads in Zagros7th-mid 6th c. BC Media615-605 Kyaxares (Umakitar/ Huvatra) conquest of Assyria

Cyrus II (the Great)Kurush king of Anshan (Elamite city in Zagros)Achaemenian dynasty: Hakhamanich (Achaemenes), Chishpish (Teispes), Kurush I, Kambujiya (Cambyses)Allied with Nabonidus of Babylon, defeated and conquered Media 550Conquered Lydia 546 (?) or after 539Conquered Babylon 539

Persian empireCambyses II: conquered Egypt 525Fiscal crisis, rebellion of Gaumata 522Darius I (the Great):Persian aristocrat, allegedly from collateral branch of AchaemeniansSupported by Persian aristocracy and army of Cyrus the GreatReconquest of all provincesReorganization of empire

Persian Empire under Darius I

Persian empire (of Darius I the Great)First universal empireArea: from Thrace to Indus valeyPopulation: 30-50 millionDivided into ca. 26 satrapiesFour capital cities: Persepolis, Susa, Ecbatana, BabylonItinerant court: tradition of nomadic lifestyle, necessity to feed court and army

Persia of Darius I: Susa palace

Persia of Darius I: Persepolis

Great King and his country 1Monarchy: Great King, King of AsiaKing: elaborate costume, strict ritual, seclusionPOWs at Damascus (331 BC): 329 female musicians, 46 wreath makers, 277 cooks, 29 cooking specialists, 13 dairy specialists, 17 drinks specialists, 70 pourers of wine and 40 perfumers

Great King

Great King and his country 2Kings banquets:1000 animals slaughtered every dayPF: food for 12,000 peopleLuxury of King:to Greeks: unmanly decadencein fact: demonstration of Kings wealth, happiness and grace of gods, redistribution of wealth among courtiers and soldiers

Persepolis - servants of the Great King

Perisan servant on a Greek vase

Great King and his country 3Roads: Kings Road Susa to Sardis (2400 km), good surface, postal stations, securityElaborate administration:known from Fars (PF, PT), to a lesser degree from Egypt, Palestine, Bactriacollecting taxes (mostly in kind)issuing rations to aristocrats, officials, labourersgift based economy

Great King and his country 4To Greeks: King/ despot and slavesTo Persians: King and bandaka (vasals)King: warrior, hunter, builderMonarchy based on feudal principles of loyalty and life-long service for land grantsSatraps:Iranian aristocrats with full powerImitating Kings court and behaviour

Persian army10,000 immortals (companions)Garrisons in a few major fortressesMercenary force: superior Greek infantry, commanded by Persians, Greek officers incorporated to Persian nobilityIranian: military settlers, aristocratic cavalryNavy: Phoenician, Cypriot, GreekWar: mostly fought by satraps

Immortals

Persepolis guard soldiers

Persian religion 1Two epochs of Aryan religion : pagan (before Zarathustra) and ZarathushtrianPagan Iranian religion:gods: of nature (e.g. Vata brought rain), of cult (e.g. Fire - Atar, Water - Apo, Haoma)Ritual purityCult of Fire: yasna with animal sacrifice, zaorta 3 times a day fuel added to fireMithra and VarunaHyposthases (personified abstracts) linked with AshaTwo types of obligation: *mithra covenent, *varuna solemn oath

Persian religion 2Asha/aa:Law of nature: truth, righteuosnessSustained by prayer and sacrificeShould guide our behaviourVirtue: fundament of normal world orderSocial virtues: truth, loyalty, courageDruj (lie) opposite of ashaPeople: ashavan (righteous), drujvant (base, liers)

Persian religion 3Aryan religion reformed by Zaratushtra c. 10th c. BC following revelation by Vohu ManahHoly book Avesta (6th c. AD)Cosmic conflict between aa (truth) and druj (lie); aim of life: to sustain aa through good thoughts, words and deeds Religion of choice and responsibility

Magi

Persian religion 4Ahura Mazda (Lord Wisdom): creator, god of aa, light, good, assisted by Amesha Spentas ("Bounteous Immortals") and by yazatas Cosmic conflict with Angra MainyuKing by grace of Ahura MazdaFire (atar): not god but agent of ritual purity, worshipped (fire altars and temples)Priests magiCorpses exposed in towers of silence

Fire worshippers in a relief of Gandhara

Yazd: fire temple

Ateshkade-e Ardashir: Sassanian fire temple

Persian warsRebellion of Greek cities in Asia Minor 499-494 BCInvasion of Greece by Xerxes 480-479Great battles: Thermopylae, Salamis, Plataea, MycaleEnd in 447: Greeks of Asia Minor freeTradition of Persian barbarity (destruction of Greek temples) and superior Greek military prowess

Persian empire of the late 5th-4th c. BCSuccessful Persian envolvement in Peloponnesian and Corinthian Wars: restoring Persian rule in Asia MinorIndependence of Egypt and great satrap revolt of 1st half of 4th c. BCArtaxerxes III (358-338): suppresion of revolt of Phoenicia, pacification of Asia Minor, reconquest of Egypt

Iranians in Asia MinorNumerous aristocratic families endowed by the Great King with land for their servicesSome gave origin to royal families in Hellenistic times: Pontus, Cappadocia, CommageneMilitary colonists, e.g. in CappadociaIranian cults:Zaratushtrians well into 3rd c. ADIranian deities assimilated with indigenous gods of Asia Minor, especially Anahita with local goddessesMithra