Persian Empire The Persian Homeland Modern day Iran
- Slides: 10
Persian Empire
The Persian Homeland • Modern day Iran • Great farmland • Rich in mineral resources – Copper, lead, gold, silver, blue lapis
Cyrus the Great • Founded the Persian Empire – Conquered neighboring kingdoms in what is today Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and Anatolia • Different from the Assyrians – Establishment of tolerance of conquered peoples • No looting and burning of cities • Honoring of local customs and religions • Freedoms granted after conquests
Processing • How was Cyrus the Great’s/Persia’s empire different form that of the Assyrians? Give at least 2 examples. • How was Cyrus important to Judaism?
Cambyses • Cyrus’ son, took over after Cyrus died • NOT a tolerant ruler, died 8 years later and left behind a weakened empire
Darius I • Was originally a royal bodyguard – Used the 10, 000 Immortals (bodyguard army) to take control • Expanded Empire to 2, 500 miles (p. 94) – India to Anatolia and Egypt – Unable to defeat the Greeks
Administration • The world’s largest empire was divided by Darius into 20 provinces • Each province was ruled by a satrap appointed by Darius
Persian Achievements • Persian Empire thrived due to the Royal Road – 1, 600 mile road improved communication and transportation leading to more trade • Circulation of coined money—standard for entire empire
Feats of Engineering
Persian Religion • Zoroastrianism – Zoroaster: prophet (600 BCE) – Two armies fought over a person’s soul • Ahura Mazda: god of truth and light • Ahriman/Ahura Mainyu: god of evil and darkness – “Judgment Day” at the end of one’s life • Paradise…. or a fiery pit, depending on how you lived your life – Holy Book: Avesta
- Day 1 day 2 day 3 day 4
- The rise of the persian empire
- How did persian rulers unite their vast empire?
- How did cyrus treat the people he conquered
- Cambysus
- Chapter 4 section 3 guided reading the persian empire
- Persian empire trade routes
- Chapter 4 section 3 the persian empire
- Parchemnet
- Persian empire golden age
- Day 1 day 2 day 817