The Persian Empires Chapter 7 Notes The Persian
- Slides: 17
The Persian Empire(s) Chapter 7 Notes
The Persian Empire(s) • Modern-day Iran • Contemporaries with later Mesopotamians • 4 Empires: – Achaemenid • Interrupted by Alexander the Great – Seleucid – Parthian – Sasanid
Early Settlers in Iran • Indo-Europeans called Medes and Persians migrated in to Iran around 1000 BCE. • Originally associated with Babylonians and Assyrians • Similar culture to Aryans (I-E who migrated into India in chapter 4) • Mostly pastoral, some agriculture • Organized in clans • Horses and archery – military strength
Achaemenids (558 -330 BCE) • First leader – Cyrus the Great • Named for Cyrus’ clan • 20 years to conquer empire from India to Egypt • Died in battle in 530 BCE – tomb still stands
Achaemenids (558 -330 BCE) • Empire lasted after Cyrus’s death – Cambyses – Darius (greatest emperor…much expansion) – Xerxes (war with Greece) – Tomb at Pasargadae
Achaemenids (558 -330 BCE) Almost 1900 miles x 900 miles……… 35 million people………. largest empire ever seen to date
Achaemenids (558 -330 BCE) How did they control such a vast territory? • Challenge = Communication • Answer = – Thousands of miles of roads – Persian Royal Road (Ephesus to the Heart of Iran – Roadside lodging for caravans – Safety police along roads – Postal network…from end to end only took 2 weeks
Achaemenids (558 -330 BCE) How did they control such a vast territory? • Challenge = Maintaining Political Control • Answer = – Regional administration – Satraps were appointed – Local officials held all other posts – Military oversight of satraps – “Eyes and Ears of the King”
Achaemenids (558 -330 BCE) How did they control such a vast territory? • Challenge = Variations/Differences • Answer = – Regular tax levy – Standardized coins – Codified laws throughout empire – Respect for conquered peoples • Religions, traditions, Jewish temple
End of Achaemenid Period • Conflict with Greece over Ionian Greeks living in Asia Minor in the Persian Empire • Persian Wars (Greece vs. Persia) 500 -479 BCE – Greeks managed to fight off further advance form Persia – Greece too disunited to pose real threat to Persia
Interruption in Persia… Alexander the Great Macedonia Invaded Persia in 334 BCE Sophisticated military Achaeminid Empire ended in 331 BCE • Followed Persian lead in governing…kept administrative centers, respect for local tradition • Died in 323 BCE…generals fought over land. • •
Seleucids (305 -83 BCE) Named for Seleucus (general to Alexander) Kept Achaemenid traditions and tactics New cities, more trade Resistance from native Persians to foreign rule (particularly from Parthians) • Later period, ruled only part of original empire • Eventually ended with Roman conquest in 83 BCE • •
Parthians ( 247 BCE- 224 CE) • • • Overlapped with Seleucids “Restorers of Persian tradition” and “home rule” Much less centralized Pressure from Rome in the west Ended with internal rebellion in 224 CE
Sassanids (224 - 651 CE) • Extensive trade • Continual pressure from Rome on the west and Kush on the east…financially draining • Ended when conquered by Arab muslims…became part of expanding Islamic empire
Social Institutions in Persia • Many administrative officials needed – led to educated class of bureaucrats • Specialized work force – artisan, professionals • Increased distance between upper and lower classes • A LOT of slavery – POWs and debtors • Free residents could move and marry at will…urbanization
Economics in Persia • Agriculture (barley and wheat…other crops introduced from foreign trader) • Surplus to support military and administration • Standardized coins – first in Lydia in 640 BCE • Long-distance trade – land sea
Religion in Persia • First similar to Aryans (also I-E people) • Introduction of Zoroastrianism – Founder = Zarathrustra – Supreme deity = Ahura Mazda – Most followers converted to Islam after conquered…only a few thousand left in Iran • Later effects on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – Omnipotent and good god – Evil in conflict with good – Ethics and morals – Judgement after death
- Maritime and land based empires differences
- Chapter 33 the building of global empires
- Chapter 32 the building of global empires
- Chapter 32 the building of global empires
- Chapter 17 nomadic empires and eurasian integration
- Nomadic empires and eurasian integration
- Chapter 19 islamic gunpowder empires
- Chapter 4 section 1 the egyptian and nubian empires
- Chapter 5 political transformations empires and encounters
- Chapter 27 the islamic empires
- Chapter 27 the islamic empires
- Chapter 18 nomadic empires and eurasian integration
- Chapter 17 nomadic empires and eurasian integration
- Aztec farming
- Chapter 33 the building of global empires
- Chapter 15 societies and empires of africa
- India's first empire
- Chapter 7 india and china establish empires