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EMPIRES of PERSIA

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Title: EMPIRES of PERSIA


1
EMPIRES of PERSIA
  • The rise and fall of the Persian Empires

2
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

3
Cyrus the Achaemenid (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

4
Cyruss son Cambysesreigned 530-522 B.C.E.
5
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.

6
Achaemenid administration
  • 23 satrapies (Persian governors), appointed by
    central government
  • Local officials were from local population
  • Satraps power was checked by military officers
    and imperial spies
  • Replaced irregular tribute payments with formal
    taxes

7
  • Standardization of coins and laws
  • Communication systems Persian Royal Road and
    postal stations

8
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

9
Decline and fall of Achaemenid Empire
  • Commonwealth law, justice, administration led to
    political stability and public works

10
The Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.)
  • Rebellion of Ionian Greeks
  • Persian rulers failed to put down the rebellion,
    sparred for 150 years

11
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

12
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

13
  • 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

14
  • 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

15
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

16
  • Free classes were bulk of Persian society
  • In the city artisans, craftsmen, merchants,
    civil servants
  • In the countryside peasants built underground
    canals
  • Large class of slaves who were prisoners of war
    and debtors

17
  • 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

18
Religions of salvation in classical Persian
society
  • Zorathustra and his faith
  • Zoroastrianism
  • Emerged from the
  • teachings of Zarathustra

19
  • 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

20
  • 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

21
  • 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

22
  • 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

23
  • Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christianity,
    and later Islam
  • Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism, Judaism also
    in Persia
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