Persia

First Mediterranean Empire

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png

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.