1. Rise of Persian Empire - Geography
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Rise of Persian Empire - Geography
Iran’s limited resources prevented a large agricultural surplus, population centers, with most people living in north and west.
To combat arid climate, underground irrigation techniques – delivering water from foothills to desert(s).

2. Rise of Persian Empire – Medians (NW Iran)
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Rise of Persian Empire – Medians (NW Iran)
Founders of modern day Iran
Helped to destroy the Assyrian Empire in the late seventh century B.C.E.
Related to the Persian Achaemenid dynasty through marriage
In 550 B.C.E., Cyrus overthrew the Median king; built a larger Persian empire that included Medes and Persians.

3. Rise of Persian Empire – Achaemenid Dynasty
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Rise of Persian Empire – Achaemenid Dynasty
Cyrus - captured the kingdom of Lydia (546 B.C.E.), bringing all of Anatolia under his control, and later took Mesopotamia (539 B.C.E.).
Cambyses - defeated Egypt and sent expeditions to Nubia and Libya.
Darius I – decreased the role of the Medes. Extended the empire east to the Indus Valley and westward into Europe.

4. Persian Government - Kings
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Persian Government - Kings
Developed a style of kingship in which they were held aloof and majestic, masters of all their subjects and nobles
Owned vast tracts of land in areas around the empire; gave some of their land to their supporters
Issued laws, appointed royal judges throughout the empire, and encouraged the codification of the laws of subject peoples.

5. Persian Government - Provinces
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Persian Government - Provinces
The provinces were crossed by a system of well-maintained roads that converged on the capital city of Susa (southwestern Iran)
Garrisons were installed at key locations
Provinces were required to pay annual tribute

6. Persian Government – Provincial Authority
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Persian Government – Provincial Authority
Each of the empire’s twenty provinces was placed under a satrap, or governor
Satraps were usually a relative or connection by marriage
The position of satrap tended to become hereditary
Satraps in distant provinces had considerable autonomy

7. Persian Government – Provincial Authority
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Persian Government – Provincial Authority
Decentralized empire allowed each group of people its own traditions and ordinances; becomes model of imperial rule

8. Persian Religion – Zoroastrianism
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Persian Religion – Zoroastrianism
The origins of this religion are unclear, but tradition ascribes the Gathas (the hymns of Zoroastrianism) to Zoroaster (Zarathustra), who lived sometime between 1700 and 500 B.C.E.

9. Persian Religion – Zoroastrianism
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Persian Religion – Zoroastrianism
Details the existence of a dualistic universe in which Ahuramazda, “the wise lord,” was locked in an epic struggle against Angra Mainyu, “the hostile spirit.”

10. Persian Religion – Zoroastrianism
ANCIENT PERSIANS
Persian Religion – Zoroastrianism
Dualism may have had an influence on Judaism and thus on Christianity:
Free will - man can choose to be good or evil
People would be judged by their lifetime deeds
Existence of a messiah (world savior)

11. ANCIENT PERSIANS Assyrians: Persians vs. Assyrians
Ruled by terror tactics
Common government & law
Spread Aramaic as common language
Built architectural monuments
Collected libraries of cuneiform tablets…largest collection of writings from Ancient Mesopotamian world
Assyrian king was intermediary to gods

12. ANCIENT PERSIANS Persians: Persians vs. Assyrians
Decentralized rule – locals keep cultural identity
Standardized currency, weights and measures – stimulate economic activity
Use Royal Road – spread communication and operation of governmental activities
Zoroastrianism