THE PERSIANS

1
THE PERSIANS

• THE HEIGHT OF SOUTHWEST ASIAS CLASSICAL SOCIETIES

2
THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE

• Persians and Medes are Iranians, related to
  Indo-Europeans
• The Medes
• Migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000
  B.C.E.
• Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits
  with the Aryans
• Persians were one of the tribes of Medes
• Cyrus the Great (reigned 558-530 B.C.E.)
• A tough, wily leader, military strategist
• Became the king of the Persians in 558 B.C.E.,
  all Medes in 548 BCE
• Conquered Lydia, Chaldean Empires
• Established vast empire stretching from India to
  Mediterranean
• Viewed favorably in the Old Testament allowed
  Jews to return home
• Cambyses, son of Cyrus (re. 530-522 B.C.E.)
• Conquered Egypt in 525
• Darius (re. 521-486 B.C.E.)
• A young kinsman of Cyrus
• Built the largest empire in world history
  conquered Indus Valley
• Ruled more than 70 ethnic groups
• Built new capital at Persepolis, 520 B.C.E.

3
ADMINISTRATION

• Divided the empire into 23 satrapies
• Satraps (governors)
• Appointed by the central government
• Local officials were drawn from local peoples
• Local policies included self-government,
  toleration
• Satraps' power
• Represent Emperor, maintain defense, collect
  taxes
• Checked by military officers and "imperial spies
• Checked by Zoroastrianism, codes of honor, fear
  of Emperor
• Replaced irregular tribute payments with formal
  taxes
• Military largest in history until Romans,
  Chinese
• Common levies from each province
• Persian cavalry Persian Immortals elite shock
  troops
• Mercenaries included Greeks
• Standardization of coins and laws
• Communication systems
• Persian Royal Road links Susa (Asia Minor, Lydia
  to Susa, in Persia)
• Postal stations with postal relay riders

4
THE PERSIAN EMPIRE
5
PERSEPOLIS
6
THE WARS WITH GREECE

• The Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.)
• Ionian Greeks rebelled
• Greek free city states sent aid to rebels
• Persian rulers put down rebellion
• Darius invaded Greece to punish Greeks
• Won battle of Thermopolyae
• Did not live long enough to finish job
• Xerxes (reigned 486-465 B.C.E.)
• Retreated from the policy of cultural toleration
• Caused ill will and rebellions among subject
  peoples
• Lost both land and sea battles to Greeks
• Battles of Marathon
• Battle of Salamis

7
ALEXANDER AND HIS HEIRS

• Alexander of Macedon
• Invaded Persia in 334 B.C.E.
• Battle of Gaugamela, ended Achaemenid empire, 331
  B.C.E.
• Alexander burned the city of Persepolis,
  conquered whole empire
• The Diadoche
• Successor states to Alexander
• Divided his empire between them
• The Seleucids
• Inherited the largest part of the former
  Achaemenid empire
• Retained the Achaemenid system of administration
• Met opposition from native Persians
• Lost control over northern India and Iran

8
SUCCESSORS TO PERSIA

• The Parthians
• Overthrew Selecuids in 238 BCE
• Based in Iran, extended to Mesopotamia
• Retained some traditions of nomadic people
• Formidable power of Parthian heavy cavalry
  because of alfalfa diet of horses
• Established a mighty empire through East SW Asia
  by conquests
• Portrayed themselves as restorers of the Persian
  tradition
• Followed the example of the Achaemenids in
  administration
• Clan leaders as satraps potential threats for
  central government
• Opposed expanding Roman empire, 1st century C.E.
• Internal rebellion brought it down in the early
  3rd century C.E.
• The Sasanids
• From Persia, claimed direct descent from the
  Achaemenids
• Toppled the Parthians in 224 C.E., new capital at
  Ctesiphon
• Government stronger, better organized, more
  absolute than Parthian
• Traded throughout Arabia, SW Asia, Indian Ocean,
  Central Asia
• Devout Zoroastrians much opposed to early spread
  of Christianity
• Battled the Kushan Empire in the east
• Battled the Roman and Byzantine empires in the
  west, 3rd century C.E.

9
IMPERIAL SOCIETY, ECONOMY

• Social Development in Classical Persia
• Nomadic character of early Persian society
• Similar to the Aryans in India
• Importance of family and clan relationships
• Imperial bureaucrats
• Needed educated bureaucrats
• Shared power with warriors and clan leaders
• Free classes
• In the city artisans, craftsmen, merchants,
  civil servants
• In the countryside peasants - building
  underground canals (qanat)
• Slaves in both cities and countryside
• Economic Foundations of Classical Persia
• Agriculture was the economic foundation
• Main crops Barley and wheat
• Supplemental crops peas, lentils, mustard,
  garlic, onions, cucumber
• Large agricultural surplus
• Trade
• Commercial zone from India to Egypt
• Political stability promoted growth of trade

10
PERSIAN RELIGION

• Zarathustra and his faith
• Earliest Persian religion resembled that of the
  Aryans
• Zoroastrianism, emerged from teachings of
  Zarathustra
• The Gathas
• Zoroastrian teachings, transmitted orally, many
  perished
• Preserved later in writing, by magi
• Compilation of the holy scriptures, Zend Avesta,
  under Sasanid dynasty
• Zarathustra's own writing survived, known as
  Gathas
• Zoroastrian teachings
• Ahura Mazda as a supreme deity, with six lesser
  deities
• Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda and Angra
  Mainyu (Ahriman, Shaitan)
• Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward and
  punishment
• The material world as a blessing
• Moral formula good words, good thoughts, good
  deeds
• Popularity of Zoroastrianism
• Attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites
• Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God
• The faith was most popular in Iran

11
RELIGIONS OF SALVATION

• Zoroastrian community suffered during Alexander's
  invasion
• Zoroastrianism was the official religion during
  Sasanid rule
• The Zoroastrians' difficulties
• Extreme rivalries with Christianity (Orthodox,
  Monophysites)
• Arabs conquered Sasanid empire, seventh century
  C.E.
• Some Zoroastrians fled to India
• Remaining Zoroastrians converted to Islam
• Few faithful Zoroastrians still exist in modern
  day Iran
• Other faiths Buddhism, Christianity, and
  Manichaeism
• Influence of Zoroastrians
• Influence on Jewish religion belief in future
  reward and punishment
• Influence on Christianity concepts of heaven and
  hell
• Later influenced Islam one of Muhammads
  protected faiths