Ancient Persia Where was Ancient Persia The Rise

Ancient Persia

Where was Ancient Persia?

The Rise of the Achaemenid Empire 550 -330 BCE • Cyrus the Great 550 BCE conquered Media, Lydia, and Babylonia • Medes – ancient Iranian people in Northwestern Iran • Achaemenid Empire – “First Persian Empire” – Nearly half the world’s population at the time – 4 Major Cities: Pasargadae, Babylon, Susa, Ecbatana

Social Structures - Politics • Satraps – governors of the provinces of the Achaemenid Empire – allowed the Persian Empire to expand flourish – responsible for the land, taxes, court cases, and roads

Social Structures - Religion • Zoroastrianism – one of the oldest monotheistic religions • Cyrus the Great respected the religions and customs of all the peoples from the lands he conquered so long as they pledged allegiance to him and paid taxes

Social Structures - Economic • The Royal Road (Sardis to Susa) – 2, 699 km could be travelled by relays in 7 -9 days – Without shortcut, this route would take ~90 days – King Darius – Horse & man per day – Caravanserais

Achaemenid Dynasty Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) Cambyses II Darius I Xerxes I • Sister: Atossa married Darius I • Artobazanes • Xerxes with Atossa • Married Esther • Cyrus the Great – ruled for ~30 years [559 -530 BCE], conquered and developed the Persian Empire • Cambyses II – son of Cyrus; ruled for ~8 years [530 -522 BCE}, conquered Egypt (Pharaoh from 525 -522 BCE) • Darius I – Persian official ascended to power; ruled for ~36 years at the Empire’s apex [522 -486 BCE], Royal Road built during his time • Xerxes I – son of Darius and grandson of Cyrus II; ruled for 21 years [486465 BCE], temporarily conquered parts of Greece

Role of Women • Available evidence relates to the nobility • Highest status = King’s Mother then King’s Wife and Sisters • Royal women experienced a considerable amount of economic independence and administrative participation • Traditional Persian women – workforce participation alongside men, wage discrepancies • Land ownership permitted • Patriarchal families, polygamous marriages Queen Atossa, Wife of Darius I

Cyrus Cylinder

Persian Wars • Greco-Persian Wars • 499 -449 BCE (Darius & Xerxes) • Conflicts between the Persian Empire and Greek city states • Cyrus the Great conquered Ionia in 547 BCE and appointed tyrants to rule cities of Greek-inhabited Ionia

Battle at Marathon • 490 BCE – First Persian invasion of Greece • Response to Greek involvement in Ionian revolt • Persians landed at Marathon and were joined by Athenians and a small force from Plataea who blocked the exits of the plain of Marathon • Greek triumph without the Spartans “Golden Age for Athens”

Battle at Thermopylae 480 BCE – Second Persian invasion of Greece Xerxes to avenge Cyrus II death Greeks (Spartans) vs. Persian army King Leonidas’ force of ~7000 held off ~1000 Persians for 7 days • Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks and revealed a small path • 300 Spartans left fighting • Persian victory • •

Battle at Salamis • 480 BCE – Following the Burning of Athens • Greek fleet remained at Salamis (large island west of Athens) • 600 Persian ships enticed into the straits where an attack was launched • Severe Persian loss – Xerxes escaped and left general Mardonius in charge • Persia fails to conquer the Peloponnese

Battle at Plataea • 479 BCE under General Mardonius – final battle of the second Persian invasion • Unified Greek city-states, with the help of the Spartans took on the Persian army in an all-out battle • Mardonius was killed, and Persian luxury goods were captured • Greek victory

Essential Questions • What is the legacy of the Persian Empire? • Why are Persians portrayed in a certain way in popular culture? Who is controlling this narrative? • What is the role of women in the Persian Empire?

Success Criteria ü I will be able to describe the legacy of the Persian Empire by using examples of key figures, socioeconomic structures, and cultural practices ü I will be able to understand how warfare contributed to the expansion and decline of the Persian Empire ü I will be able to recognize the way Ancient Persians are portrayed in popular culture and think of reasons as to why this occurs ü I will be able to explain the role of women and social structures in Ancient Persia