Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great
580 – 530 B. C. E.
580 – 530 B. C. E.
A tolerant ruler he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.
The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.”
The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine).
Cambyses- 530-522 BCECambyses- 530-522 BCE
• Son of CyrusSon of Cyrus• Expanded empire by Expanded empire by
conquering Egyptconquering Egypt• Non-tolerantNon-tolerant• Scorned Egyptian Scorned Egyptian
religionreligion• Wide spread Wide spread
rebellion followedrebellion followed
Darius the Great
(520 – 485 B. C. E.)
Darius the Great
(520 – 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.”
The dreaded “Immortals”
Darius the Great (520 – 485 B. C. E.)
Darius the Great (520 – 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.
Xerxes I – 490 – 465 BCEXerxes I – 490 – 465 BCE
• Son of DariusSon of Darius• Greco-Persian WarsGreco-Persian Wars• Two invasions-10yrs Two invasions-10yrs
apartapart• Battle of MarathonBattle of Marathon• Battle of ThemopylaeBattle of Themopylae• Battle of SalamisBattle of Salamis• Loss of Persian Loss of Persian
dominancedominance
King Xerxes of Persia
Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:
Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words
Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:
Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words
“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”
Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil
Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil
Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”
Ahriman“Destructive
Spirit”
Ahriman“Destructive
Spirit”