Persia 600 BCE600 CE Characteristics of an Empire

Persia 600 BCE-600 CE

Characteristics of an Empire 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Takes over others and manipulates them to follow the central power. Creates rules and regulations that connects those that are conquered to the central power, but that central power doesn’t have to follow those rules. Organize a military and prevent competition. Secure and create stability in the differing parts that were conquered. Find a way to generate income to fund the empire’s programs. Bind the old upper class to the new central power.

Origins • Appeared in Mesopotamia about 1300 BCE • From an Indo-European people group • Cyxares (r. 625 -575) established an army and began conquering & organizing the empire ▫ Married his daughter to a Babylonian prince ▫ Conquered Assyria

Persia under Cyrus II (the Great) • R. 558 -529 BCE • Expanded the empire and took out Babylon • Used existing local governments and military in each satrapy • Used previous kings as advisors • Worship the Babylonian god Marduk to make the priests happy • Allowed the people Babylon captured to go home ▫ 40, 000 Jews went back to Judea ▫ They thought of Cyrus as a savior

Persia under Cyrus II (the Great)

Persia under Cambyses II (529 -522 BCE) • Captured Memphis and the pharaoh • Egypt revolted a lot so they had to put tons of military there • Used the same administrative system set up by Cyrus • Tried to capture Carthage but failed when his navy mutinied • Tried to capture Nubia, but troops got lost in the desert • He kicked his wife/sister to death while she was pregnant • May have not been mentally stable

Persia under Darius I (522 -486 BCE) • Moved Persian empire into India ▫ Produced 1/3 of money of the Empire ▫ There was lots of fighting on the borders • • Was unable to conquer Greece Used locals elites to staff the government jobs Expanded bureaucracy to make it more efficient Persian army was placed in each satrap ▫ Had to report directly to Darius about the satrap’s actions

Persia under Darius I (522 -486 BCE) • Created the first Persian script • Law codes for each area were created by the satrap in that area • Taxed land by 20% • Persian collector collected taxes on land, industry, mining, ports, water, and sales • Built complex road system with inns and a royal courier service with stations every 15 miles • Completed a Nile-Red Sea canal

Persia under Darius I (522 -486 BCE) • Renewed irrigation systems • Moved crops throughout the empire • Standardized the gold coin ▫ Only his mint could make them • • Economy flourished Built 4 capital cities Emperor “owned” all the land Spread Zoroastrianism

Persian War • Some conquered Greek colonies were trying to regain independence • Athens tried to help, Darius got mad • In 490 BCE, Darius decided to punish Athens • Battle of Marathon ▫ 600 Persian ships landed with 48, 000 soldiers ▫ Greece had 10, 000 hoplites ▫ Persia lost 6400 men, Athens 192