The Persian Empire

Iron Age Empires: Introduction• Iron metallurgy begins around 1500BCE with the Hittites• 600 BCE – 600 CE• Age of large empires encompassing

multiple people groups• Iron allows

• More complex, more coercive government structures.

• Population to grow (better military equipment/better plows)

• More extraction of resources from conquered lands

Main Questions for Time Period II

In pre-modern times, how do rulers govern large territories and establish unity, stability, and prosperity?

How do Empires operate politically and socially?

What kinds of cultural characteristics are seen in empires?

What developments occurred within trade and religion during the period 600 BCE – 600 CE?

Persian Empire Huge & Unified Located in modern Iran By 500 BCE, it consisted of

everything between Egypt, Turkey, Indus River Valley and Mesopotamia.

Problem? – How to unifythese very different areas!

What was the common religion of the Persian Empire?

Methods of Unification 1 of 3 1. Common Religion – the Persian Empire

followed Zoroastrianism and encouraged it, but did NOT impose it

Belief in cosmic struggle between good and evil.

Shah = main representative of the “good guys”

Lesson: Religious Toleration is GOOD

2. Communications – Royal Roads were built connecting the empire

3. Delegating power – Satraps (governors) were appointed to rule outlying territories

Methods of Unification 2 of 34. Displays of power – Persepolis, the

capital, contained huge monumental structures;

5. Using size to their advantage Imposing unified coinage Taxation was regular and predictable Created a stable empire

6. Ideology of Kingship Shah was the representative of God

*Ahura Mazda* on earth

PersepolisDarius I began the elaborate citadel; his son, Xerxes, continued its construction; and his grandson, Artaxerxes I, completed the magnificent city of Persepolis, which was a confluence of styles--Median, Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek. Only portions of the audience hall remain. (George Holton/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Persepolis

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Methods of Unification 3 of 3

7. Keep the People Happy Persians used a new technology

called the qanat system (underground irrigation canals)

Food = Happy People Elites who were taken over in

conquest often were made bureaucrats and wealth was given to these elites by the

Shah (King)

Tomb of CyrusCyrus the Great (r. 559-530 B.C.E.), king of the Persians, was one of the most remarkable statesmen. For all his greatness Cyrus retained a sense of perspective. His tomb, though monumental in size, is rather simple. Greek writers reported that it bore the following epitaph: "O man, I am Cyrus the son of Cambyses. I established the Persian Empire and was king of Asia. Do not begrudge me my memorial." (The Oriental Institute, University of Chicago)

Tomb of Cyrus

Check out that other slide right now!

Continuity or Change? What methods seem similar to the River

Valley Civilizations? Different?

EVENTUAL PROBLEMS: Persia clashed with Greece, as the Greek

city-states unified and attempted to fight back the expanding Persian Empire

Eventually, the Greeks unified under Alexander the Great, who defeated Persia in military campaigns

Relief of two Persian MagiThis stone relief from Dascylium, headquarters of the Persian governor in northwest Anatolia, shows two magi wearing veils over their mouths and holding bundles of sticks used in the ceremony of sacrifice. The Persian kings and their subordinates were Zoroastrians, and it is likely that Zoroastrianism spread to the provinces, where significant numbers of Persians lived, and influenced the beliefs of other peoples. (Courtesy, Archaeological Museums of Istanbul)

Relief of two Persian Magi

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.