Persian Empire

The Persian Homeland

• Modern day Iran• Great farmland• Rich in mineral

resources– Copper, lead,

gold, silver, blue lapis

Cyrus the Great

• Founded the Persian Empire– Conquered neighboring kingdoms in

what is today Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and Anatolia

• Different from the Assyrians– Establishment of tolerance of

conquered peoples• No looting and burning of cities• Honoring of local customs and religions• Freedoms granted after conquests

Processing

• How was Cyrus the Great’s/Persia’s empire different form that of the Assyrians? Give at least 2 examples.

• How was Cyrus important to Judaism?

Cambyses

• Cyrus’ son, took over after Cyrus died

• NOT a tolerant ruler, died 8 years later and left behind a weakened empire

Darius I

• Was originally a royal bodyguard– Used the 10,000

Immortals (bodyguard army) to take control

• Expanded Empire to 2,500 miles (p.94)– India to Anatolia and

Egypt– Unable to defeat the

Greeks

Administration

• The world’s largest empire was divided by Darius into 20 provinces

• Each province was ruled by a satrap appointed by Darius

Persian Achievements• Persian Empire thrived due to the

Royal Road– 1,600 mile road improved

communication and transportation leading to more trade

• Circulation of coined money—standard for entire empire

Feats of Engineering

Persian Religion

• Zoroastrianism– Zoroaster: prophet (600 BCE)– Two armies fought over a person’s soul• Ahura Mazda: god of truth and light• Ahriman/Ahura Mainyu: god of evil and

darkness

– “Judgment Day” at the end of one’s life• Paradise….or a fiery pit, depending on how

you lived your life

–Holy Book: Avesta