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Empire: Persians and Greeks

Empire: Persians and Greeks. Mrs. Hoff. What is an Empire?. A group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom. Common features of an empire.

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Empire: Persians and Greeks

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  1. Empire: Persians and Greeks Mrs. Hoff

  2. What is an Empire? • A group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom.

  3. Common features of an empire • All empires controlled large areas and populations. • All empires were brought together by conquest and funded in part by taking wealth from conquered peoples.

  4. Common features of an empire • All empires stimulated the exchange of ideas, cultures, and values among the people they conquered. • All empires tried to make people more loyal to the leaders than local identities and loyalties. • All empires ultimately collapsed.

  5. Differences to look for: • Some empires tried to rule through local elites; others sought to rule with more centralized power structures. • Some empires are new; some draw on older traditions. • Some last for longer periods than others. • Some assimilated conquered peoples more quickly and completely than others.

  6. Persian Empire 500-330 BCE

  7. Persian Empire • In 500 BCE, it was the largest and most impressive empire. • Persians originated in present day Iran. • Copied old system of government from former Mesopotamian civilizations. • Much larger and more splendid than past civilizations.

  8. Persian Empire • Famous leaders: • Cyrus and Darius I expanded the empire from Egypt to India • Diverse empire with population of around 35 million people.

  9. Persepolis

  10. Persian Empire • Kingship • King rules by the will of Ahura Mazda, the god. • Absolute monarchy (means the king had unlimited power)

  11. Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit” Ahriman“Destructive Spirit”

  12. Persian Empire • To keep the empire together: • Violent punishments by the king • Effective administration system • Satraps governed the empire’s 23 provinces • Local officials answer to satraps • System of imperial spies

  13. Persian Empire • Respect for non-Persian cultural traditions • Cyrus allowed Jews to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild Jerusalem temple • Persians adopted foreign customs readily

  14. Persian Empire • Standardized coinage, predictable taxes • Immense wealth and power • Encouraged communication and commerce • Royal road 1,700 miles across the empire • Mail service for elites

  15. Greek Empire • Greece begins 750 BCE, lasts about 400 years. • Distinct culture • Population 2-3million people • Mountainous, causes development of hundreds of city-states and small settlements • City-state: sovereign state consisting of an autonomous city with its dependencies • Fiercely independent, frequent conflicts

  16. Greek Empire • Shared a common language and common gods • Between 750 and 500 BCE colonized around the Mediterranean basin and Black Sea area. • Most distinctive feature: popular participation in politics! • Held the first Olympics 776 BCE

  17. Greek Empire • Politics • Equality of all citizens (men) before the law • Extent of citizenship varied depending on time and city • Early Greek history: only wealthy and well-born were citizens. • Gradually expanded to middle- and lower-class men • Important to have the ability to fight for the city-state

  18. Greek Empire • Tyrants (dictators) emerged in many areas, supported by the poorer classes against the rich. • Sparta gave most political authority to the Council of Elders • Athens was different, more democratic

  19. Greek Empire • Athens: • Intense class conflict led to reforms by Solon in 594BCE. Rights of citizens continued to expand over time. • By 450 BCE, holders of public office were chosen by lottery and paid • Assembly was open to all citizens and the center of political life

  20. Greek Empire • Differences between Athenian and modern democracy • Direct democracy, not representative • Women, slaves, and foreigners were all excluded.

  21. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars • Persians: embarrassing, but the failure of the Persian invasion of Greece had very little impact on the Persian Empire

  22. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars • Greeks: • Defeating the Persians was a source of enormous pride for the Greeks. • Confirmed their view that Greek political systems were superior, Persian despotism was inferior. • Despot means a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power.

  23. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars • More men become citizens in Athens. Rowers in the navy insisted on full citizenship. • Golden Age of Greek culture • Parthenon built • Greek theatre born • Socrates begins his career as a philosopher.

  24. Socrates

  25. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars • Leads to a civil war, known as the Peloponnesian War when Athens tries to dominate the Greek city-states. • Eventually leads to Alexander the Great (from Macedonia) conquering Greece.

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