1. What geographic features or civilizations do you recognize in the Persian Empire?

2. The Persians
Allowed their subjects to keep their own language, religion, and laws
Used fairness instead of fear and force
Wanted their subjects to pay taxes and produce goods for trade
Controlled an empire that stretched from the Indus River to Egypt and Asia Minor

3. Darius the Great
Adopted the Lydian invention of coins to improve economy
Divided empire into provinces and appointed Satraps (governors) to rule each province
Created the Royal Road to help government send messengers, armies and to facilitate trade

4. The Royal Road
Building this road allowed Darius’ messengers to make a trip across the empire in about 6 weeks (formerly it took 6 months!)
Messengers rode in relay style switching horses every few miles (like the pony express)

5. Zoroastrianism Zoroaster (Zarathustra) was a Prophet
Taught that there were 2 gods
Ahura-Mazda - God of Light (goodness) – born on the solstice (calculated by the Persians as December 25th)
God of Darkness (evil)
If you obey the good god you will be rewarded with eternal Paradise
If you obey the evil god you will be punished with eternal Torment

6. Faravahar - symbol of soul of a human that existed before his / her birth and after death (eternal soul)

7. Xerxes

8. Invasion of Greece