The Persian Empire bigger faster stronger The Persian

The Persian Empire “bigger, faster, stronger”

The Persian Empire • Ancient Persia is where Iran is today • The Persians conquered three (3) River Valley Civilizations – Indus River Valley – Mesopotamia – Egypt • Persia became the first large empire stretching from India to Egypt and Turkey

The Extent of the Persian Empire

Focus Question: How did the Persians build and maintain such a tremendous empire?

Activity The classroom will be split up into four regions: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, and Egypt Each student will write a brief letter to someone in another region telling them about their own region.

Discussion Question: How can you get your letter to the person you wrote it to?

Focus Question: How did the Persians build and maintain such a tremendous empire? R. O. A. D. S. The Persians built a Royal Road that was 1, 677 miles long and had 111 relay stations that provided rest areas and fresh horses.

How would the Royal Road enable a ruler to maintain power in the empire?

The R. O. A. D. S. of Persia RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE ONLY USED COINS FOR OFFICIAL TRADE A JUSTICE SYSTEM DIPLOMACY SENDING MAIL

Activity Students pass their letters to other students in order that they may travel along to Royal Road to be delivered.

The R. O. A. D. S. of Persia RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE • The Persians based their empire on tolerance. • The Persians believed in Zoroastrianism (a god of good and a god of evil), but they allowed the people they conquered to continue to worship their own local gods. • The Persians allowed the Jews to return to their homeland, after the defeat of Babylon.

The R. O. A. D. S. of Persia ONLY COINS FOR OFFICIAL TRADE • The Persians introduced a universal currency or “Coins of the Realm, ” in order to simplify trade

The R. O. A. D. S. of Persia A UNIFIED JUSTICE SYSTEM • The Persians empowered judges throughout the Empire to decide cases based on the Persian law code

The R. O. A. D. S. of Persia DIPLOMACY • The Persians allowed local Kings and officials to remain in power as long as they pledged allegiance to Persia.

The R. O. A. D. S. of Persia SENDING MAIL • The Persians created the first Postal Service.

The Rulers of Persia 550 BC CYRUS ‘the Great” Conquered neighboring kingdoms Military Genius Who used overwhelming power KINDNESS toward conquered peoples HONORED local customs and traditions 550 BC Allowed Jews to return to “homeland”

Primary Source • “This is the word of Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, G-d of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he himself has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. To every man of his people now among you I say, G-d be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord G-d of Israel, the G-d whose city is Jerusalem. ”

The Rulers of Persia 522 BC DARIUS ‘the Great” Took power Well-organized Government brought Peace and Stability EXPANDED The Persian Empire by 500 miles COULD NOT CONQUER Greece

The Religion of Persia: ZOROASTRIANSIM • Monotheistic (one god) • Battle between “good” & “evil” • May have influenced Hebrews in their development of Judaism

Reflecting on Persia • Students can write a return letter to the person whom they received a letter from expressing how the five R. O. A. D. S. of the Persian Empire compare with modern life in The United States of America.