THE PERSIANS RELIGION Persian thinker Zoroaster Introduced new

THE PERSIANS

RELIGION Persian thinker Zoroaster Introduced new religion, Zoroastrianism Monotheist religion Inspired Cyrus’ conquest

RELIGION Persia changed religions several times Borrowed from the Assyrians and Arabians. Worshipped single god named Mithra. Combo between major gods of Assyria and Arabia.

CYRUS THE GREAT First united by Cryus the Great Chief in the south of Persia Religious tolerance made him successful Had conquered all of Persia by 554 BC Later conquered the Lydian and Babylonian empires

CAMBYSES Cyrus’ son, Cambyses: Conquered Egypt in 525 BC Rebellions started after he died

DARIUS Cambyses’ son, Darius: Used elite soldiers to put down rebellions Extended Persian empire to farthest reaches Divided huge empire into 20 independent provinces Attempted to conquer Greece- beaten in the Battle of Marathon

PERSIAN EMPIRE UNDER DARIUS

PERSEPOLIS Capital of Ancient Persia Destroyed during the conquests of Alexander the Great Founded by Darius Ceramic works were mostly from Susa and Persepolis

ECONOMY Darius set up common weights and measurements Encouraged use of coins Created economic-links throughout the large empire First used by Lydians of Asia Minor

TRADE ROUTES Darius improved the Royal Road Used for trade within the empire Connected the empire Extended from cities Susa to Sardis Had 111 post stations Riders would trade out horses

THE ROYAL ROAD Stretched 1, 677 miles

TECHNOLOGY Built ports and roads Canal from the Red Sea to the Nile Used water management system for irrigation called Qanat Well-like shafts connected with tunnels Drained water using gravity

QANAT WATER SYSTEM

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS Pottery was the first form of art in Persia The oldest found is from the 5 th millennium BCE Used animal motifs on their pottery Also made: Bowls Jewelry Rhytons (drinking horns)

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS Ancient Persians were very elaborate Artists and supplies came from everywhere. Pasargadae had palaces, bridges, and open column pavilions

IMPACT OF IDEAS Zoroastrianism inspired thoughts of good and evil, heaven and hell Invented birthday celebrations Technological ideas spread through Persia via the Royal Road Very advanced for its time

INDIVIDUALS OF PERSIA King Cyrus- 550 -530 B. C. King Cambyses- 530 -522 B. C Darius- King of Kings Zoroaster- hell) prophet (heaven vs.

IMPACT OF IDEAS Peace Open vs. War to personal preferences Monotheism & polytheism

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS Each province: - governor, Satrap - army leader - tax collector Achaemenid Empire

CONTINUITY AND CHANGE Political order - Southwest Asia Preserved Practical ways of life from past solutions to problems

TECHNOLOGY THROUGHOUT PERSIA Standardized Road weights & measures Systems Coinage

ECONOMICS Affected Central by geography trade place Recorded rise & fall

CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT Learning/Arts Languages Artistic styles flourished- trade

RISE OF PERSIA Cyrus was king during this period He was a very smart and tricky with his ruling. Cyrus started his reign of Mesopotamia by negotiating with Babylon He told Babylon that they had nothing to fear

RISE OF PERSIA CONT. After saying this Persia took over Lydian's and the Cilicia’s These conquests were easy for Cyrus compared to the test he would face next

PERSIA VS. BABYLON Cyrus began his conquest of Babylon by telling them to inactivate their military for Persia’s war with the other city-states This was a trick to get the Babylonians off guard

PERSIA VS. BABYLON CONT. The This Babylonians gave a good fight but lost victory gave the Persian’s control of all Mesopotamia

PERSIAN EMPIRE The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian Plateau The original home land was spread out through Asia

PERSIAN EMPIRE Persia’s peak was under Darius the Great During 550 - 330 B. C. E they controlled land from the Aegean sea to the Central Asian Republics

PERSIAN EMPIRE Cyrus the Greats successor was his son, Cambyses conquered Egypt during his reign.

PERSIAN EMPIRE From 550 - 330 BCE The Persian Empire was the largest empire of the ancient world

FALL OF PERSIA The fall of Persia came under the rule of Xerxes He tried to invade Greece, but was defeated Persia was conquered in 8 years Their weakness was exposed by the Greeks

GEOGRAPHY Began east of Mesopotamia (modern day Iran) Desert Spread from modern day Iran all the way to the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt

GOVERNMENT The Persian Government was divided into twenty satrapies (provinces) They were governed by satraps They belonged to the Shah The Shah charged taxes in each province These taxes paid for all jobs and resources

RELIGION Zoroastrianism became the main religion for all Persian’s They believed in the traditional Aryan gods

FUN FACTS The Caspian horse originated from Persia Darius founded the city of Persepolis Short bows, a spear, and a dagger were carried by the immortal