Part II: The Formation of Classical Societies, 500 BCE to 500 CE

• What is meant by “Classical Societies”?

• Where?

• Other Hallmarks of the Period:

Chapter 7

The Empires of Persia

Chapter 7, The Empires of Persia

• The Achaemenid Empire • The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires

• Imperial Society and Economy – Social Development in Classical Persia – Economic Foundations of Classical Persia

• Religions of Salvation in Classical Persian Society – Zarathustra and His Faith – Religions of Salvation in a Cosmopolitan Society

Persian Empires

• Contemporary Iran • Four major dynasties

– Achaemenids (558­330 BCE) – Seleucids (323­283 BCE) – Parthians (247 BCE­224 CE) – Sasanids (224­651 CE)

The Persian Empire, 538­ 330 B.C.E.

• Medes and Persians – Indo­European nomads from Central Asia who settled in Iran before 1000 BCE

• Capitalized on weakening Assyrian and Babylonian empires

• Achaemenids

Achaemenid Empire (558­330 BCE)

• Cyrus “the Great,” r. 558­530 BCE, founder of the Persian Empire – “Cyrus the Shepherd” – Defeated Iran, Anatolia, and then Neo­ Babylonians

– Title (by 539 BCE): • King of All, Great King, Mighty King, King of Babylon, King of the Land of Sumer and Akkad, King of the Four Rims (of the Earth), the Son of Cambyses the Great King, King of Anshan.

– Allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem

The Persian Empire, 558­ 330 BCE

• Cambyses II, r. 530­522 BCE – Conquered Egypt in 525 B.C.; title of Pharaoh

• Darius I, r. 521­486 BCE – Peak of the Persian Empire

• Ruled from the Indus to the Aegean – Capital at Persepolis

Achaemenid Administration • 23 Administrative divisions (Satrapies, Provinces)

– Each pay tribute, taxes, and labor • Administrative heads= Satraps

– Satraps were Persian, but staff principally local • System of spies, surprise audits

– Minimized possibilities of local rebellion • Professional Army

– 10,000 Immortals – Navy

• Technologies: – Coinage – Underground canals (qanat) – Massive road building

• Royal Road • courier services

• War against Greece – Ionian Greek rebellion, 499­494 BCE – Invasion of Greece, 490 BCE

Darius’ Inscription at Behistun

The Later Persian Empire, 558­ 330 BCE

• Xerxes, r. 486­465 BCE – Second War against Greece, 480­479 BCE

• Darius III, last Persian king, defeated by ___________________, 331 BCE

After the Persian Empire

• Successor Empires: – Seleucid Empire – Parthian Empire – Sasanid Empire

• All copied the Achaemenid administrative structure

Seleucid Empire, 323­83 BCE • Alexander the Great conquered the Achaemenid Empire (334­331 BCE)

• Alexander the Great died suddenly • Generals divided empire

– Biggest part went to Seleucus (r. 305­281 BCE) – B & Z describe it as the “choicest realm”; was it?

The Achaemenid and Selucid empires, 558­83 BCE

Seleucid Empire, 323­83 BCE • Achaemenid Legacy:

– System of administration and taxation – Roads, postal service

• New Cities • New Colonists from Greece • Faced revolts from local [Persian] satraps • Lost holdings in the East to Parthian invaders in 3 rd century BCE

Parthian Empire, 247 BCE­224 CE • Semi­nomadic invaders from the steppes of central Asia

• Drove the Seleucids out of Iran in 3 rd century BCE

• Federated governmental structure • Especially strong cavalry • Weakened by ongoing wars with Romans

• Fell to internal rebellion

The Parthian and Sasanid empires, 247 BCE­651 CE

Sasanid Empire, 224­651 CE • Sasanids claimed descent from the Achaemenids

• Continual conflicts with Rome & Byzantium in the west, Kushans in the east

• Overwhelmed by Arab conquest in 651 CE

• Persian administration and culture absorbed into local Islamic culture

Persian Economy • Several areas exceptionally fertile • Long­distance trade benefits from Persian road­building

• Goods from India especially valued

Zoroastrianism • Early Aryan influences on Persian religious traditions

• Prophet Zarathustra (late 7 th ­early 6 th c. BCE)

• Dualistic Religion: – Ahura Mazda (“Wise Lord”) – Beneficient Spirit; “Truth”

– Angra Mainyu (also known as Ahriman) – “The Hostile Spirit;” “The Lie”

• Oral teachings until Sasanid period composed Gathas (“Songs”), part of the Zend Avesta

Zoroastrianism • Struggle between good and evil • Belief in angels, a savior, and fiery judgment day

• Moral teachings • Priests – Magi • Religion changed over the centuries

– Importance of lesser gods, such as Mithra, the Sun­god

• Influence on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Persian Religion: Zoroastrianism

• Zoroaster on Good and Evil

In the beginning, there were two Primal Spirits, Twins spontaneously active; These are the Good and the Evil, in thought, and in word and in deed; Between these two, let the wise choose aright; Be good, not base.

-- The Divine Songs of Zarathustra

See Bentley & Ziegler, p. 176

Fortunes of Zoroastrianism

• Under Alexander: – Massacre of Magi – Zoroastrian temples burned

• Weak Parthian support for Zoroastrianism • Major revival under Sasanids

– Persecution of non­Zoroastrians • Discrimination under Islam