1. The Ancient Middle East Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Modified by Pamela Hammond Brantley Co HS Nahunta, GA

2. The
Persian
Empire

3. Geographic Influences
bounded by mountains, deserts, and the Persian Gulf
left it open to attack from Central Asian nomads.
fundamental topographical features included high mountains on the edges, salt deserts in the interior, and a sloping plateau crossed by mountain streams.

4. The Persian Empire

5. Lack of Persian Perspective
Most information from Greek perspective (Herodotus)
Enemies of Persians
Stereotyped culture
Got much of it wrong
Gradually, through archaeological evidence, correcting much of the information
Historiography: the study of how history is written

6. Cyrus the Great
Conquered Neo-Babylonians (Mesopotamia) & Anatolia (inc. Lydia)
The 10,000 Immortals
A tolerant ruler  he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.
The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.”
The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine).
580 – 529 B. C. E.

7. Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)
Built Persepolis.
He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. sq. mi.)
Built a canal in Egypt.

8. Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)
Established a tax-collecting system.
Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES.
Built the great Royal Road system.
Established a complex postal system.
Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

9. Ancient Persepolis

10. Persepolis

11. The People of Persepolis

12. Persian “Royal Road”

13. Persian Archers & Soldiers

14. Zoroaster, 6c BCE: Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words
“Tree of Life”

15. Extent of Zoroastrianism

16. Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil
Ahura Mazda “Holy Spirit”
Ahriman “Destructive Spirit”

17. Zend-Avesta (The “Book of Law”)
The “Sacred Fire”  the force to fight evil.