Administering Empire in Classical Persia

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Administering Empirein Classical Persia
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I. Extension of Order in the Classical World
(c.500 BCE 500 CE)

• 1. What are the defining elements of classical
  societies?
• 2. How does a society exert influence over
  increasingly large, complex, diverse lands?
• 3. What are the internal and external
  challenges?
• 4. What strategies are adopted in what types of
  situations?

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teleology

• From Greek telos, meaning end or conclusion
• A teleological approach holds that all things are
  designed for a particular purpose or outcome
• Teleological thinking is poor history why?

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Today

• Extension of Order in the Classical World
• Persian Geography
• Administering Empire in Persia
• - Internal Challenges
• - External Challenges
• - Hallmarks of Darius Reign

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Key Points

• Classical societies built on early complex
  foundations, expanding and centralizing
• Persian empire emerged out of geographically
  rugged Iran to incorporate diverse lands
• Darius and other Persian emperors developed
  sophisticated strategies for building, managing
  and retaining the vast empire

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I. From Early Complex to Classical
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II. Persian Geography
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Irrigation (qanat)
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III. Administering Empire in Persia
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Darius (522-486 BCE)
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Strategies for Building Empire

• Create legitimacy of rule
• Subjugate unruly elements and populations
• Push back external threats and invaders

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Strategies for Building Empire

• What else needs to be done? Why?

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Suggested steps for keeping an empire

• Codify law
• Reform tax system
• Establish fixed wages based on social standing
• Revamp the satrap system
• Ensure satrap loyalty
• Use spies (eyes and ears of the king)
• Build communications systems (roads, etc.)

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Royal Road
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Suggested steps for building an empire

• Codify law
• Reform tax system
• Establish fixed wages based on social standing
• Revamp the satrap system
• Ensure satrap loyalty
• Use spies (eyes and ears of the king)
• Build communications systems (roads, etc.)
• Spend wisely

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Royal Entourage

• Women children
• Aristocratic sons
• Noblemen
• Administrators
• Bodyguard
• Slaves

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Suggested steps for building an empire

• Codify law
• Reform tax system
• Establish fixed wages based on social standing
• Revamp the satrap system
• Ensure satrap loyalty
• Use spies (eyes and ears of the king)
• Build communications systems (roads, etc.)
• Spend wisely
• Encourage loyalty and fear

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Persepolis
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Persepolis
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Persepolis (reimagined)
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Inscription of King Darius
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Achaemenid Royal Tombs
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Persian Timeline

• 7th century (Emergence of Zoroastrianism)
• 558 - 330 BCE Achaemenid dynasty
• 323 - 83 BCE Seleucid dynasty
• 247 BCE 224 CE Parthian Dynasty
• 224 - 651 CE Sasanid dynasty