1. Four Major Dynasties: Achaemenids (558-330 BCE)
Chapter 7: The Empires of Persia
Cyrus (r BCE)
Four Major Dynasties:
Achaemenids ( BCE)
Seleucids ( BCE)
Parthians (247BCE-224 CE)
Sasanids ( CE)
Alexander the Great (r. 334 – 323 BCE)
Darius (r BCE)

2. The Achaemenid (558-330 BCE) and Seleucid Empires (323-283 BCE)

3. The Parthian (247BCE-224 CE) and Sasanid Empires (224-651CE)

5. Geography Religion/ Belief Systems Achievements Present Day Iran-Iraq
Darius = W Anatolia, E Indus River Valley, S Egypt and
N Armenia
Geography was mixed
Religion/
Belief Systems
Achievements
Theme 1
Theme 2
Theme 2

6. Geography Religion/ Belief Systems Achievements Present Day Iran-Iraq
Darius = W Anatolia, E Indus River Valley, S Egypt and
N Armenia
Geography was mixed
Religion/
Belief Systems
Achievements
Theme 1
Zorastrianism - rituals, good vs. evil, Zarathustra,
Ahura Mazda versus Angra Mainyu
judgment day where your "good words, good thoughts,
good deeds" are assessed. material world = OK
(later influenced Christianity, Judaism, Islam):
1. omnipotent beneficent deity
2. good will prevail over evil
3. humans must strive for highest moral standards
4. humans will undergo judgment day
Theme 2
Persepolis 500 BCE
Persian Royal Road 1600 miles/ qanats
postal system / standardized coins / standardized laws/ regular taxes
specialized production in different areas of the empire
open lines of communication (to administer 70 different ethnic groups)
emphasized family, clan, education
tolerance
Theme 2

7. Political Systems Economic Systems Social Theme 3 Theme 4 Theme 5
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these
couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”
Theme 4
Theme 5

8. Political Systems Economic Systems Social Theme 3
initially clan based/ nomadic/ pastoralists
centralized authority (Cyrus, Darius) but not direct rule of subjects
SATRAPS governed 23 SATRAPIES/ locals helped administer satrapies
imperial spies (“eyes and ears of the king”)
Darius = genius = great administrator
Xeres = ruins tolerant environment = fall of the Achamenids
Persian Wars BCE
Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanid Empires
Theme 3
high agricultural production/ taxes and tribute
Roads fostered trade
economic specialization
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these
couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”
Theme 4
highly organized classes of bureaucrats/ priests/ craftsmen/
merchants/ slaves/ free peasants
population 35 million (Darius)
conspicuous displays of wealth/ social extremes
Theme 5