THE ASSYRIAN (700 BC) AND PERSIAN (539 BC) EMPIRES Assyrian warship Assyrian King Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions

ASSYRIA (700-612 BCE) Semitic-speaking people Modern reproduction of Assyrian sword and shield

GOVERNMENT Ruled by kings with absolute power Well-organized Officials developed an efficient communication system Sargon II was the most important leader Carried 27,000 Israelites into captivity Assyrian winged bull from Sargon’s palace

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Created one of the world’s finest libraries at Nineveh: Established Aramaic as official language Effective military Large army with iron weapons Used new fighting tactics and terror Infantry MILITARY Strong leaders Large, well-organized, and disciplined fighters Infantry was the core and was supported by cavalry and horse-drawn chariots Assyrian battering ram

FALL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE The Chaldeans and Medes (people who lived in the east) joined together to conquer the Assyrians in 539 BC The fall of Nineveh preceded the fall of the Assyrian Empire They divided the empire Tablet detailing the destruction of Nineveh

BETWEEN THE EMPIRES Nebuchadnezzar Chaldean King made Babylon the strongest city in western Asia Famous hanging gardens Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 BC This marked the end of the Mesopotamian empires Persians adopted Assyrian military, political and artistic inventions Babylon was the center of the Chaldean Empire Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon and constructed canals, aqueducts, reservoirs, and temples Nebuchadnezzar faces off against King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah

PERSIA (559 BCE- 360 BCE) Persians Mostly nomadic tribes at first Persian Empire was massive and grew larger than the prior Mesopotamian empires Established durable political and cultural traditions Fertile farmland and thriving trade Had several capital cities including Persepolis and Susa Achaemenids united the Medes and the Persians

CYRUS THE GREAT – 559 BC Created a powerful state through warfare Indus River to Anatolia Demonstrated wisdom, compassion, and mercy Had a genuine respect for other cultures and practiced tolerance of local customs Respected temples Jews returned to Jerusalem Borrowed from achievements of earlier Mesopotamian society Creating a powerful state Cyrus conquered several neighboring kingdoms in 550 BC, all of the Fertile Crescent, and most of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) When he captured Babylon, he allowed the captive Jews to return to Israel and all of the captured people considered him to be their ruler The Cyrus Cylinder was the first human rights charter Cyrus created massive empire in northern Middle East and northwestern India

DARIUS – 521 BCE Conqueror Added part of India to Persian Empire Conquered Thrace (in Europe) Invaded Greek mainland Halted at the Battle of Marathon Created world’s largest empire at that time BATTLE OF MARATHON – 490 BCE Persian invasion of Greece began as a punishment for the revolt of several Greek city-states against Persian rule (Persians put it down) Greeks defeated a huge Persian army under the leadership of the Athenians Greek soldier named Pheidippides ran 26 miles to take the news to Athens, collapsed, and died Persians then tried to attack Athens by sea, but the Athenians had rushed back to defend their city. Persians vowed revenge and returned to Asia

Accomplishments Government Strengthened it Created more efficient communication system The King had the power of life and death PROVINCES Each province was ruled by a governor Satraps, or governors, collected taxes, distributed justice, and recruited soldiers Expanded Assyrian postal system COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Royal Road was well-maintained and included stations with food, shelter, and fresh horses PICTURE (BOTTOM LEFT) Tomb of Darius in Persis PICTURE (BOTTOM RIGHT) Subject satraps paying homage to Darius

Accomplishments Military Empire’s power depended upon the military cavalry and infantry Built effective road system MAP Achaemenid Empire under Darius INFANTRY Elite force called the “Immortals” Whenever a member was killed, he was immediately replaced

XERXES Son of Darius Stopped rebellion in Egypt and attacked Greece Battle of Thermopylae Battle of Salamis Was defeated and returned to Persia THERMOPYLAE Xerxes wanted revenge for his father 480 BCE – Amassed an army and fleet that outnumbered the Greeks more than two to one Many Greek city-states held back at first because they thought the Persians would win easily A Greek traitor showed the Persians a pass that would lead them to Athens, which was indefensible Most Athenians were evacuated to an island They watched as the Persians set fire to their temples on the Acropolis SALAMIS Themistocles (Athenian leader) realized that Persian navy was too big to move quickly If they could be led into a narrow straight, their numbers wouldn’t matter, and they would be easily defeated Themistocles had a slave visit Xerxes with a trick – he told Xerxes that the Greeks were quarreling Persians rowed into the narrow straight of Thermopylae Instead of a weak force, they found a united force that was ready to fight Xerxes watched the battle from a hill overlooking the straight The Persian navy was almost destroyed and Xerxes fled

ZOROASTRIANISM Persian religion named after its prophet – 660 BC Zoroaster Tenets Proto-Monotheistic: Ahura Mazda Humans play a role in the struggle between good and evil Humans are given the freedom to choose between right and wrong ZOROASTER Born in 660 BCE Teachings are recorded in the Zend Avesta

FALL OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE Why? Kings became isolated and focused on obtaining luxuries Struggles over the throne weakened the monarchy Eventually defeated by Alexander the Great of Greece Kings increased taxes and loyalty decreased FAMILY PROBLEMS Kings had many wives and children Sons had little power and engaged in plots to gain the throne Persian archer