The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Section 4Section 4

Key TermsKey Terms

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great Darius IDarius I SatrapSatrap XerxesXerxes ZoroasterZoroaster DualismDualism

Growth and OrganizationGrowth and Organization

Persia under MedesPersia under Medes– Created MediaCreated Media– Conquered neighborsConquered neighbors– Conquered PersiaConquered Persia– Allowed them to keep Allowed them to keep

leadersleaders– Remained subject to Remained subject to

MedesMedes

Growth and OrganizationGrowth and Organization

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great– 559 BC559 BC– Led revolt against MedesLed revolt against Medes– Conquered Asia MinorConquered Asia Minor– Several Geek citiesSeveral Geek cities– Defeated ChaldeansDefeated Chaldeans– Captured BabylonCaptured Babylon– Allowed people to keep Allowed people to keep

their customstheir customs– Won Cyrus respectWon Cyrus respect

Growth and OrganizationGrowth and Organization

– Freed Jews from Freed Jews from Babylonian slaveryBabylonian slavery

– Rebuilt their TempleRebuilt their Temple– Died fightingDied fighting– Cambyses II became Cambyses II became

emperoremperor– Was a tyrantWas a tyrant

Growth and OrganizationGrowth and Organization

Darius IDarius I– Fought to restore orderFought to restore order– Permanent armyPermanent army– Paid and trained Paid and trained

soldierssoldiers– 10,000 Immortals10,000 Immortals– BodyguardBodyguard– Calvary and chariotsCalvary and chariots– Ceremony and ritualsCeremony and rituals– King of KingsKing of Kings

Growth and OrganizationGrowth and Organization

– Symbols of powerSymbols of power– Wore robes and jewelryWore robes and jewelry– Satraps- were Satraps- were

governors of a regiongovernors of a region– King had officials check King had officials check

on satrapson satraps– Strengthened Persian Strengthened Persian

economyeconomy– First coins mintedFirst coins minted– Built roads Built roads

Growth and OrganizationGrowth and Organization

Persia in DeclinePersia in Decline– Darius was the Darius was the

highpointhighpoint– Xerxes tried to expandXerxes tried to expand– Invaded Greece and Invaded Greece and

was defeatedwas defeated– Last strong emperorLast strong emperor– Rebellions startedRebellions started– Conquered by Conquered by

Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

Based on the teachings Based on the teachings of a man named of a man named ZoroasterZoroaster

World created by Ahura World created by Ahura MazdaMazda

Evil spirit AhrimanEvil spirit Ahriman Dualism- taught that Dualism- taught that

world is controlled by world is controlled by opposing forces of opposing forces of good and evilgood and evil

ZorastrianismZorastrianism

People had free willPeople had free will Join Mazda and fight Join Mazda and fight

evilevil Avoid bad deedsAvoid bad deeds Taught how to best Taught how to best

serveserve Good deeds recorded Good deeds recorded

in Avestain Avesta Sacred textSacred text

ZorastrianismZorastrianism

– Avesta says people live Avesta says people live good livesgood lives

– Enter heaven Enter heaven (pleasurable)(pleasurable)

– Wicked punished for Wicked punished for sinssins

– End of time all are End of time all are forgivenforgiven

Persian AchievementsPersian Achievements

Blending caused unityBlending caused unity Peaceful empirePeaceful empire CommunicationCommunication

– RoadsRoads– Royal road 1500 miles Royal road 1500 miles

longlong– Messengers on Messengers on

horsebackhorseback

Persian AchievementsPersian Achievements

Art and ArchitectureArt and Architecture– Delicate drinking Delicate drinking

vesselsvessels– Gold objectsGold objects– High ceiling audience High ceiling audience

hallhall– Columns supported the Columns supported the

ceilingceiling– Brightly paintedBrightly painted– Stone carvingsStone carvings