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Persian Empires

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Achaemenids (558-330 BCE) Seleucids (323-383 BCE) Parthians (247 BCE-224 CE) Sasanids (224-651 CE)

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Achaemenid Empire

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migration of Medes and Persians from central Asia before 1000 BCE capitalization of weakening Assyrian and Babylonian empires Cyrus (r. 558-530 BCE) founded the dynasty peak of the empire under Darius (r. 521-486 BCE) ruled from the Indus River to the Aegean Sea with the capital at Persepolis

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Medes and Persians

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migrated from central Asia to Persian before 1000 BCE were Indo-European speakers and shared cultural traits with Aryans challenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empires

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Cyrus

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? the Achaemenid (r. 558-530 BCE) launched the Persians' imperial venture came from a mountainous region of southwestern Iran; was called ? the Shepherd laid the foundation of the first Persian empire

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Cyrus's Conquests

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Cyrus became king of the Persian tribes in 558 BCE ruled from his palace in Pasargadae had all of Iran under his control by 548 BCE campaigned against Lydia in 546 BCE, central Asia and Bactria between 545 BCE and 539 BCE, and Babylonia in 539 BCE established a vast empire from India to the borders of Egypt

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Death of Cyrus

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Cyrus no doubt would had campaigned against Egypt, had he lived long enough in 530 he fell, mortally wounded his body was placed in a tomb at Pasargadae

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Cambyses

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Cyrus's son, ? (r. 530-522 BCE) conquered Egypt in 525 BCE

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Darius

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? (r. 521-486 BCE) extended the empire largest extent of empire with a population of thirty-five million diverse empire with seventy ethnic groups

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Persepolis

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establishment of communication and centralized administration new capital at ? built around 520 BCE monument to the Achaemenid dynasty and nerve center of the Persian empire

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Persian Developments

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administration with networks of educated bureaucrats, tax collectors, and spies qanats (underground canals) to support agriculture policies promoting long-distance trade (e.g. standardized coinage, road building, a courier service, marketplaces, banks, and investment companies) Zoroastrianism; teachings demanded high moral and ethical standards

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Achaemenid Administration

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* administration satraps: Persian governors taxes, coins, and laws - formal taxes, standardization of coins and laws roads and communications - Persian Royal Road and postal stations

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Satrapies

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administrative and taxation districts governed by satraps twenty-three satrapies were appointed by the central government local officials were from local population the satraps' power was checked by military officers and imperial spies

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Taxes, Coins, and Laws

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i. replaces irregular tribute payments with formal ? ii. standardized ? fostered trade throughout the empire iii. brought the empire's legal systems closer to a single standard * (list all three, in order)

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Roads and Communications

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purpose was to govern a far-flung empire through communication systems Persian Royal Road stretched about 2,575 km 111 postal stations for a courier service imperial highways stretched 13,000 km in combination and facilitated trade

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Achaemenid Commonwealth

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* "Achaemenid ? " law, justice, and administration led to political stability extensive public works projects were made possible iron metallurgy spread across the empire Cyrus and Darius pursued a policy of toleration, but Xerxes sought to impost his values

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Xerxes

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Darius' successor was ? (r. 486-465 BCE) retreated from the policy of cultural toleration caused ill will and rebellions among the peoples in Mesopotamia and Egypt

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Persian Wars

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series of conflicts that Greeks called ? (500-479 BCE) rebellion of the Ionian Greeks, fighting for their independence Persian rulers failed to put down the rebellion; for almost 150 years the Persian empire sparred with the Greek cities

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Alexander of Macedon

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invaded Persia in 334 BCE his army was well-disciplined, was well armed, and used sophisticated tactics fought in the battle of Gaugamela and ended the Achaemenid empire in 331 BCE burned the city of Persepolis

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Seleucid Empire

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established after Alexander the Great died suddenly generals divided the empire; best part went to Seleucus (r. 305-281 BCE) attacked by rebellion in India and invasion of Parthians

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Seleucids

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Seleucus (r. 305-281 BCE) inherited most of the former Achaemenid empire when Alexander died retained the Achaemenid system of administration opposition from native Persians and lost control over northern India and Iran

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Parthian Empire

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seminomadic Parthians drive Seleucus out of Iran federated governmental structure especially strong cavalry weakened by their ongoing wars with the Romans fell to internal rebellion

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Parthians

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seminomadic people based in Iran who extended to wealthy Mesopotamia had well-trained forces of heavily armed cavalry did not have a centralized government but was organized through a federation of leaders portrayed themselves as restorers of Persian traditions

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Mithradates I

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the Parthians revolted against the Seleucids ? established an empire through conquest from 171-155 BCE consolidated his hold on Iran and extended Parthian rule to Mesopotamia

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Parthian Government

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followed the example of Achaemenid administration authority and responsibility in their clan leaders worked to build independent bases of power in their regions and mounted rebellions against the imperial government combined with Roman pressure, brought down the Parthian empire

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Sasanid Empire

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claimed descent from the Achaemenids continual conflicts with Rome, Byzantium in the west, and Kush in the east overwhelmed by an Arab conquest in 651 BCE

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Sasanids

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? (r. 224-651 CE), from Persia, toppled the Parthians merchants brought in various crops from India and China Shapur I (239-272 CE) created buffer states between the Sasanids and the Roman empire standoff with the Kushan, Roman, and Byzantine empires the empire was incorporated into the Islamic empire in 651 BCE

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Shapur I

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? (239-272 CE) created buffer states between the Sasanids and the Roman empire

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Agricultural Production

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economic foundation surpluses available for sale in the cities or for distribution to state servants through the imperial bureaucracy distributed to the imperial court, satraps, and other high officials as wages in kind

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Growth of Trade

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promoted by: - relative political stability - standardizing coinage - cities establishing banks to facilitate commerical activities - linking lands from India to Egypt in a vast commercial zone

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Trade

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linked lands from India to Egypt in a vast commercial zone various regions of the Persian empires contributed to the larger imperial economy specialization of production in different regions

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Standardized Coins

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? of precisely measured metal and guaranteed value drew merchants from distant lands to Lydian markets due to their simplicity led to the opening of markets, banks, and companies

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Slaves

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large class of ? who: - were often prisoners of war or people who had rebelled against imperial authorities - often came from the ranks of the free who were in debt provided much of the manual labor on construction projects

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Qanat

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underground canals part of irrigation systems led to enhanced agricultural production and population growth constructed because water was scarce and to keep water from evaporating

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Free Classes

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in the cities: included artisans, craftsmen, merchants, and low-ranking civil servants in the countryside: included peasants and landless cultivators built irrigation systems, the most remarkable of which were underground canals known as qanat

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Imperial Bureaucrats

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imperial administration called for educated ? undermined the position of the old warrior elite included a substantial corps of translators came to share power and influence with warriors and clan leaders

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Social Development

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social structure was similar to that of the Aryans and maintained a steppe tradition followed a seminomadic lifestyle family and clan relationships were important

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Zoroastrianism

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early Aryan influences on Persian religious traditions Zarathustra (late 7th-early 6th centuries BCE) was the prophet of Ahura Mazda Ahura Mazda was against Angra Mainyu priests of Zarathustra were known as magi relied on oral teachings until magis of the Sasanid period composed the Gathas

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Zarathustra

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teachings resulted in the emergence of Zoroastrianism became disenchanted with the traditional religion and its concentration on bloody sacrifices and mechanical rituals experienced a series of visions and became convinced that the supreme god, Ahura Mazda (the "wise lord") made him a prophet

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Ahura Mazda

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the supreme god, ? (the "wise lord") made Zarathustra a prophet cosmic conflict between ? and Angra Mainyu; the forces of good would ultimately prevail

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magi

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Zoroastrian priests who at first transmitted Zoroastrian teachings orally later compiled their scriptures in a holy book known as the Avesta

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Gathas

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Zarathustra's hymns that he composed in honor of the various deities that he recognized his teachings were later preserved in writing by magi compilation of the holy scriptures in the Avesta under the Sasanid dynasty

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Avesta

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holy book in which the Zoroastrian magis compiled their scriptures

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Zoroastrian Teachings

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did not call for ascetic renunciation of the world in favor of a future heavenly existence recognized Ahura Mazda as a supreme deity with six lesser deities cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu; the forces of good would ultimately prevail individual souls would undergo future judgment heavenly paradise as reward and hellish realm as punishment

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Popularity of Zoroastrianism

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considered the material world a blessing moral formula: "goog words, good thoughts, good deeds" popularity of Zoroastrianism grows from sixth century BCE attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites (e.g. Darius regarded Azura Mazda as the supreme god) most popular in Iran, but attracted followings in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and more

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Good v. Evil

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* "? v. ?" Zoroastrianism encouraged the observation of high moral and ethical standards Ahura Mazda (good) and Angra Mainyu (evil) made choices about how to behave based on their fundamental natures all would experience the rewards and the punishments that their choices merited

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Zoroastrian Difficulties: Alexander's Invasion

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* difficulty for the Zoroastrians ("Zoroastrian Difficulties: ? ") suffering of Zoroastrian community during ? an untold number of hymns and holy verses disappeared Zoroastrian faith survived and cultivated by the Parthians

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Zoroastrian Difficulties: Islam

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* difficulty for the Zoroastrians ("Zoroastrian Difficulties: ? ") ? conquerors toppled the Sasanid empire in the seventh century CE some Zoroastrians fled to India; descendants are known as Parsis ("Parthians") most Zoroastrians in Persia converted to ? a few thousand Zoroastrians still exist in modern-day Iran

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Officially Sponsored Zoroastrianism

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the Sasanids supported Zoroastriansm zealously persecuted other faiths if they seemed likely to challenged Zoroastrianism Zoroastrian faith and magi flourished with imperial backing theologians collected holy texts and analyzed morality and theology

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Other Faiths

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Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Manichaeism attracted converts in Persia Jewish communities were established in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Persia after 930 BCE during the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid eras, the Persian empire attracted merchants, emissaries, and missionaries

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Influence of Zoroastrianism

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Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism, Christrianity, and later, Islam omnipotent and beneficial deity was responsible for all creation human beings must strive to observe the highest moral standards individuals will undergo judgment morally upright will experience rewards in paradise; evildoers will suffer punishments in hell

AP World History – Chapter 7 | The Empires of Persia – Flashcards

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