1. THE PERSIANS

2. PERSIANS 612 B.C.- Assyrians defeated by Chaldeans/Medes
Where? Modern day Iran. Geography= fertile farmland and minerals.
2 major powers emerge: the Medes and the Persians
550 B.C.- Cyrus begins conquering. Eventually he controls 2,000 miles.
Cyrus is known for his tolerance (how so?)
Cyrus dies in 530 B.C. He is replaced by Cambyses (his son). He conquers Egypt. Is he as tolerant?
He dies in 8 years and is replaced by Darius.

3. More on the heavyweight battle of Greeks vs Persians later!
Darius expands the empire to 2500 miles and conquers everything in his path except for one group: the Greeks.
Darius’ administrative genius: tolerance, satraps, “King’s eyes and ears”, roads (Royal Road- 1,677 miles), coins of a standard value
More on the heavyweight battle of Greeks vs Persians later!

4. PERSIANS Zoroaster- circa 600 BC?
Monotheistic religion called Zoroastrianism
Belief in one god: Ahura Mazda
good and evil are in constant opposition
modern Indian followers are known as Parsi
dualist theory of religion