1. The Empires of Persia
600BCE – 600CE

3. Early History & Geography
Persians – Indo European Migrants
Iranian Plateau
Achaemenid clan
Cyrus large areas of West Asia under his control within a 20 year period
son, Cambyses brought Egypt under Persian control in 525BCE
Later Darius extended empire east and west – in total nearly 2,000 miles east to west and 1000 miles north to south – with a total of 35 million people!

5. Achaemenid Rule Toleration of Numerous ethnic groups and languages
Bureacuracy at Persepolis
23 Administrative and taxation districts called satrapies, with a satrap for each
Checks to satraps power – military officers, tax collectors & imperial spies
Infrastructure
Persian Royal Road 1,600 miles long
Courier Service, 11 postal stations
Standardized Coinage of Money

9. Religion in Practice
Darius claimed divine sanction, yet tolerant of other religions
Zoroastrianism’s impact on other faiths
No missionary component
Missionary impact of other faiths:
Buddhism
Christianity
Manichaeism (blend of Zoroastrianism, Christianity & Buddhism)

10. Religion: Zoroastrianism
Founder: Zarathustra
Holy Book: Avesta
Priestly class: Magi
Principle deity: Ahura Mazda – (six lesser gods)
Doctrine:
Final judgment
Good vs evil (heaven & hell)
Enjoy pleasures of this life

11. Economic Foundations Trade Agriculture Foundation of economy
Barley, wheat
Qanat: underground canals
surpluses
Trade
Vast commercial zone
Long distance
Success?:
roads, coins, political stability
Diffusion during Hellenistic Age
Cities - banks

12. Social Classes Slaves Free Classes Imperial Bureaucrats Artisans
Low ranking civil servants
Merchants
Priests
Landed & landless rural peasants
Imperial Bureaucrats
Educated
Translators
Administrators
Record keepers
Slaves
Debtors
Captives of war
Owned by individual, state or temple
Restrictions: movement, marriage

13. Decline of Achaemenid Rule
Xerxes (486BCE – 465BCE) retreated from previous policy of toleration of various ethnic and religious identities
Rebellions - Persian Wars (500BCE – 479BCE)
150 yrs. Sporadic rebellions, lack of growth

15. End of Achaemenid Rule Alexander the Great invades (334 BCE)
Outnumbered by Persians
More sophisticated military tactics
Heavier arms

16. Later “Persian” Empires
The Seleucid – former commander of Alexander the Great’s Army. Viewed as foreigners
The Parthian – originated in Eastern Iran – restorers of Persian rule
The Sassanid – claimed direct decent from Achaemenid – conquered by Arabs

20. What is the Persian Legacy?
MESOPOTAMIA: Applied military and administrative techniques on a much larger scale
MASSIVE IMPERIAL STATE: First to build and maintain (Achaemenid 558BCE – 330 BCE)
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: shaped moral and religious thought that influence later development of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

21. Lost City of Persepolis
Video