EMPIRES of PERSIA

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EMPIRES of PERSIA

• The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

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The Achaemenid Empire

• Medes and Persians migrated from central Asia to
  Persia before 1000 B.C.E.
• Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits
  with Aryans
• Challenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empires

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Cyrus the Achaemid (the shepherd) (reigned
558-530 B.C.E.)

• Became king of Persian
• tribes in 558 B.C.E.
• All of Iran under his
• control by 548 B.C.E.
• Established a vast
• empire from India to
• borders of Egypt

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Cyruss son Cambysesreigned 530-522 B.C.E.
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Darius (reigned 521-486B.C.E.)largest extent of
empire population 35 million

• Diverse empire,
• seventy ethnic groups
• New capital at Persepolis
• 520 B.C.E.

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Achaemenid administration

• 23 satrapies (Persian governors), appointed by
  central government
• Local officials were from local population
• Satraps power checked by military officers and
  imperial spies
• Replaced irregular tribute payments with formal
  taxes

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• Standardization of coins and laws
• Communication systems Persian Royal Road and
  postal stations

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Decline and fall of Achaemenid Empire

• Commonwealth law, justice, administration led to
  political stability and public works

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Xerxes (reigned 486-465B.C.E.)

• Retreated from the policy of cultural toleration
• Caused ill will and rebellions among the peoples
  in Mesopotamia and Egypt

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The Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.)

• Rebellion of Ionian Greeks
• Persian rulers failed to put down the rebellion,
  sparred for 150 years

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Alexander of Macedon invaded Persia in 334 B.C.E.

• Battle of Gaugamela, the end of the Achaemenid
  empire , in 331 B.C.E.
• Alexander burns the city of Persepolis

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The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires

• Seleucus inherited most of Achaemenid when
  Alexander died
• Retained the Achaemenid system of administration
• Opposition from native Persians lost control
  over northern India and Iran

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• The Parthians, based in Iran, extend to
  Mesopotamia
• Power of Parthian was
• heavy cavalry
• Mithradates I established
• an empire through
• conquests from 171-155 B.C.E.
• Parthian government
• followed the example of
• Achaemenid administration

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• The Sasanids, from Persia, toppled Parthians
  ruled 224-651 C.E.
• Merchants brought in various crops from India and
  China
• Shapur I (239-272 C.E.) buffer states with
  Romans standoff with Kushan
• In 651 C.E., empire incorporated into Islamic
  empire

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Imperial Society and Economy

• Social development in classical Persia
• Nomadic society, importance of family and clan
  relationships
• Imperial bureaucrats
• Imperial administration called for educated
  bureaucrats
• Shared power and influence with warriors and clan
  leaders

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• Free classes were bulk of Persian society
• In the city artisans, craftsmen, merchants,
  civil servants
• In the countryside peasants, some of whom were
  building underground canals (qanats)
• Large class of slaves who were prisoners of war
  and debtors

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• Economical foundations of classical Persia
• Agriculture was economic foundation
• Trade from India to Egypt
• Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets,
  and banks
• Specialization of production in different regions

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Religions of salvation in classical Persian
society

• Zorathustra and his faith
• Zoroastrianism
• Emerged from the
• teachings of Zarathustra

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• Visions supreme god (Ahura Mazda) made
  Zarathustra prophet
• The Gathas, Zarathustras
• hymns in honor of deities
• Teachings preserved later
• in writing, by magi
• Compilation of holy
• scriptures, Avesta,
• under Sasanid dynasty

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• Zoroastrian teachings
• Ahura Mazda as a
• supreme deity, with
• 6 lesser deities
• Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda (good) and
  Angra Mainyu (evil)
• Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward and
  punishment
• The material world as a blessing
• Moral formula good words, good thoughts, good
  deeds

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• Popularity of Zoroastrianism grows from sixth
  century B.C.E.
• Attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites
• Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God
• Most popular in Iran followings in Mesopotamia,
  Anatolia, Egypt, and more

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• Religions of salvation in a cosmopolitan society
• Suffering of Zoroastrian community during
  Alexanders invasion
• Officially sponsored Zoroastrianism during the
  Sasanid empire
• The Zoroastrian difficulties
• Islamic conquerors toppled the Sasanid empire,
  seventh century B.C.E.
• Some Zoroastrians fled to India (Parsis)
• Most Zoroastrians converted to Islam
• Some Zoroastrians still exist in modern-day Iran

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• Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christianity,
  and later Islam
• Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism, Judaism also
  in Persia