Post on 14-Nov-2014
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Persia
First Mediterranean Empire
Rise of the Persians
• Persian compete with Medes after fall of Assyrians.
• 550 BC – King Cyrus consolidates and expands his empire
• Expands from Asia Minor to West India
• Used diplomacy and tolerance to unite many groups of people
• Used their military to back up their rule.
• Allowed local customs and religions.
• Bloodless occupation of Babylon
• Allowed Jews to return
• Cyrus’ Son Cambyses Expands his empire, but is less tolerant
• With death came rebellion and empire falls apart
Rise of Darius(We’ll meet him later with the Greeks)
• Darius – noble of the ruling dynasty – seizes power.
• Puts down revolts over 3 years and expands empire.
Ruling a large government
• Governed area by dividing area into 20 provinces – each governed by a SATRAP.
• Each area had some autonomy
• Darius standardized money and created the Royal Road.