The Persian Empire Test Questions – Flashcards

Medes marched to Nineveh from homeland in area of present day northern Iran Medes close neighbor to South Persia began to expand its horizons + territorial wishes

Persians based their empire on tolerance and diplomacy Relied on strong military (back up their policies) Ancient Persia (Iran)

Area goes past Caspian Sea in north to Persian Gulf in south + fertile farmland ancient Iran bragged about wealth of minerals Included Copper Lead Gold Silver Gleaming blue lapis lazuli Big trade in these minerals put settlers in contact with their neighbors to east + west First lots of tiny kingdoms occupied region Eventually two major powers came Medes + Persians Later amazing ruler would lead Persia to take over Medes + found huge empire

That year Cyrus (Persia's king) began to conquer several close kingdoms

Beginning of Achaemenid dynasty military genius Leading army from win to win between 550 and 539 B.C. Later Cyrus controlled empire that spanned 2,000 miles From Indus River in east to Anatolia in west Even more than his military knowledge Cyrus's most lasting legacy was method of governing Kindness toward conquered peoples revealed wise + tolerant view of empire Ex. Cyrus's army marched into city his generals prevented Persian soldiers from looting + burning Not like other conquerors Cyrus believed in honoring local customs + religions Instead of destroying local temple Cyrus would kneel there to pray Cyrus allowed Jews who had been driven from homeland by Babylonians to return Jerusalem in 538 B.C. Under Persian rule Jews rebuilt city + temple Jews were forever grateful to Cyrus whom considered one of God's anointed ones Cyrus was killed as fought nomadic invaders on eastern border of his empire Cyrus died in 530 B.C.

Succeeded by combining Persian control with local self government

His son Cambyses (named after Cyrus's father) expanded Persian Empire by conquering Egypt Son neglected to follow his father's example Cambyses scorned Egyptian religion Ordered images of Egyptian gods be burned After ruling for eight years Cambyses died Immediately widespread rebellions broke out across empire

Darius was great warrior real genius is in administration Cambyses's successor (Darius a noble of ruling dynasty had begun his career as member of king's bodyguard) Elite group of Persian soldiers (Ten Thousand Immortals helped Darius get throne around 522 B.C.) Darius spent first three years of reign putting down revolts Spent next few years establishing well-organized + efficient administration Brought peace + stability to empire Darius turned attention to conquest Led armies eastward into mountains of (present day Afghanistan + down into river valleys of India) Immense Persian Empire now extended over 2,500 miles embracing Egypt + Anatolia in west part of India in east + Fertile Crescent in center Darius's one failure was inability to conquer Greece

To govern sprawling empire Darius divided into 20 provinces Under Persian rule people of each province still practiced own religion Also spoke own language + followed many of own laws Administrative policy of many groups sometimes called "nationalities" living by own laws in one empire was repeatedly practiced in Southwest Asia Tolerant of many groups within empire Darius ruled with absolute power Each province Darius installed governor called satrap who ruled locally Darius also appointed military leader + tax collector for each province Ensure loyalty of officials Darius sent out inspectors known as "King's Eyes and Ears" Two other tools helped Darius hold together his empire Excellent system of roads allowed Darius communicate quickly with most distant parts of empire Famous Royal Road Ex. Ran from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia (distance of 1,677 miles) Darius borrowed second tool manufacturing metal coins from Lydians of Asia Minor For first time coins of standard value circulated throughout extended empire People no longer had to weigh + measure odd pieces of gold or silver to pay for what they bought Network roads + wide use of standardized coins promoted trade Trade helped hold together empire

The Royal Road

One way where societies build + maintain empires is by establishing systems of communication + transportation The Royal Road built by rulers of Persian Empire connected Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia 4 horse chariot dates from 6th-4th centuries B.C. Type of vehicle that would have traveled Royal Road in time of Darius Studs on wheels were designed to help prevent chariot from slipping Ride Along Royal Road

Goes from Sardis-Nineveh-Susa Road was 1,677 miles in length There were 111 post or relay stations spaced about 15 miles apart along road Other roads branched off main road to distant parts of empire Relay stations were equipped with fresh horses for king's messengers Royal messengers could cover length of Royal Road in 7 days Normal travel time along road was longer A caravan Ex. Might take three months to travel whole distance

Strong road networks like Royal Road enabled empires to expand + maintain control over people + places Like Persians Inca of South America created a road system thousands of miles long Roads allowed Inca to extend their rule over as many as 16 million people Empires throughout history have shared characteristics like Efficient communication system Effective leaders Powerful armies

By time of Darius's rule 2,500 years had passed since first Sumerian city-states had been built During those years people of Fertile Crescent had endured war conquest + famine Events gave rise to basic question Why should so much suffering + chaos exist in world? Persian prophet named Zoroaster (lived around 600 B.C.) offered an answer

Zoroaster taught that earth is battleground where great struggle is fought between spirit of good + spirit of evil Zoroastrian religion teaches belief in one god Ahura Mazda At end of time Ahura Mazda judge everyone according to how well he/she fought battle for good Similarities to Zoroastrianism like concept of Satan + belief in angels can be found in Judaism, Christianity, + Islam After Muslim conquest of Persia in A.D. 600s Zoroastrian religion went down Zoroastrianism was an important influence in development of Manichaeism religious system that competed with early Christianity believers

Through tolerance + good government Persians brought political order to Southwest Asia Preserved ideas from earlier civilizations + found new ways to live + rule Respect for other cultures helped preserve those cultures for future Powerful dynasty Cyrus established in Persia lasted 200 years + grew into huge empire

Definition- Someone who uses copper rods to find water What it Does?- So they dig into the ground to find water using copper rods

Vertical shafts were dug from surface Tunnel was then excavated horizontally for short distance Then another vertical shaft was built 31/4 of a mile up slope Channel continued 20,30 km away

How Cultures unite with him 700 B.C Achaemenes founded dynasty Persians were able to use ability to find + move water to get other close tribes to join with them After Achaemenes built group Cyrus (a future member of dynasty) was able to start conquering + putting empire together

What was it? First capital of Persia Located in modern Iran Where did technology + design ideas come from? Took ideas from people as far as Assyria, Egypt, Asia minor Found them by other conquests that he did

Showpieces Walls were designed to Two palaces surrounded by Majestic Park + formal gardens First known appearance by the paradesia Engineered Over 1,000 yards of limestone channels So they were 4 quartered wall of Persian gardens Water would enter small basins every 16 yards Water came in every 14 minutes to keep garden alive Unique Geometric design Squares Rectangles Roses Different plants Cypress trees Influenced Beginning of modern parks and plants (concept of it) Influenced world for the next 2 Millenia

Rebuilt old capital city sucia Built Persepolis (Persian city in greek) All palaces that were built rose from stone platform Designed so that it enhances stature of the empire Terrace square is big 125,000 square meters Had to change landscape Level out part of area Build retain wall Wanted it to be seen from distance Add stature to empire Level area then build up Walls were big (65ft high) and thick (35ft) Halls had intricate designed columns Made stone tents had pillars called apitamis Walls had people from conquered lands Extended far away from outside the walls Why did he do it where + how he did How He had thousands of architects, craftsmen, laborers + tons of materials, brought from far away places in empire Believed what cyrus did and got people paid instead of using slaves Where Near modern city of shiraz Were nomadic people Lived in tented accommodation Moved a lot At Persepolis they had tent turned into stone The apadana (Audience hall) is just a stone tented building Seen from distance too

Instead of Slave labor they got people to do it and they were paid Women and men worked Pain accordingly to how good you were at what you were doing

Intricate design water and drainage system Unrivaled anywhere Drainage system Before soil was put in Engineers constructed drainage system Were covered Plumbing + Drain pipes Water was brought in by cannot system Drain pipes would drain effluence out were taken underground where visitor wouldn't see

Two building projects One would go over 1500 miles over the persian empire The other would connect red sea to mediterranean Massive stone highway Weave empire together from north africa to india Royal road- name What were unique parts of idea for keeping empire connected Had to go through Mountains Forests Deserts He used stones, pebbles, rocks, dirt packed in together to make road Had to stop groundwater so that it doesn't mess up the road or keep ground water contained or not in the way Linked by 111 rest stations + inns every 18 miles Eat sleep + rest horses + change to rested horses Watch people were placed all around the road to make sure things to go wrong (like police)

Would link red sea to mediterranean Darius's canal Challenges Has to go over all different kind of terrane Sometimes clings to mountains Has to go over Tigris + Euphrates river So it had one side where the ships were out of the water then moved to another side where they could go back in the water again (130 miles long, east west canal) This was a challenge and the time it would take to build this would be 7 years Lots of work

Infrastructure (Ex. Roads and ways to get to other places) Ex. Food gets to table by people driving to bring it to the grocery store Infrastructure was big part of assyrian military tactics Block off the ways to get inside city and to get food On road there are pit stops to sleep get food and get fresh horses Like gas stations today People were placed at different areas so that things were on track Like stealing they would report it They were the kings eyes and ears Like police today Darius made it easier to trade because he made a standardized currency + standardized carts Trade efficient So if wheel breaks and get to rest stop they have axle that will fix that wheel Since there is standardized stuff then people are getting more money and people will be less likely to rebel