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Ch. 7 Empires of Persia

Ch. 7 Empires of Persia. The Achaemenid Empire The Selucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires Social and Economic Developments Religions in Persian Society. 4 major Empires of Persia. Achaemenid, (558- 330 B.C.E.) Seleucid (323- 83 B.C.E.) Parthian (247- 224 B.C.E.)

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Ch. 7 Empires of Persia

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  1. Ch. 7 Empires of Persia The Achaemenid Empire The Selucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires Social and Economic Developments Religions in Persian Society

  2. 4 major Empires of Persia • Achaemenid, (558- 330 B.C.E.) • Seleucid (323- 83 B.C.E.) • Parthian (247- 224 B.C.E.) • Sasanid (224- 651 C.E.) • controlled much of the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and India for over one thousand years, from about 550 B.C.E. through 650 C.E.

  3. The Achaemenid Empire People: Medes & Persians migrated from central Asia to Persia (modern day Iran), who became peoples of Achaemenid Empire Leaders: Cyrus the Shepard, Cambyses, Darius Center of Empire: Persepolis -full of advisors, ministers, diplomats, scirbes, accountants, translators, bureaucratic officers Political: - balance between central dominance and local administration -appointed governors to different regions for central control -divided into satrapies – administrative and taxation districts -taxes, laws, standardized coins

  4. Darius the Great

  5. The Royal Road Archaemenid Empire built roads, some of them stone, and courier service

  6. At the Height of the Empire… • Roads and administrative control allowed empire to extend • Laws and justice maintained stability • Qanat –underground canals- improved agriculture and led to more population • Iron Metallurgy – iron tools used in agriculture throughout empire

  7. Decline & Fall of Empire • Cyrus & Darius promoted toleration of multicultural empire and various ethnic groups • Xerxes (Darius successor) imposed his own values and moved away from toleration • People of Mesopotamia and Eygpt resented Xerxes and rebelled. • Ionian Greeks (500 B.C.E.) rebelled and asserted independence • Known as the Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E)

  8. Decline & Fall of Empire • 150 years of battles and wars with Greek city-states • Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.E.) -Persian loss • Alexander the Great defeated Persians with 48,000 Macedonians • Battle of Gaugamela (331 B.C.E) – Alexander the great defeated Achaemenid forces and empire was finished

  9. Alexander the Great

  10. The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires (After Alexander the Greats’ death) • Alexander the Greats’ empire was divided into 3 realms • Seleucid –reigned using Archaemenid systems of administration & taxation, royal roads and postal service • Parthians –took over Iran, seminomadic, no centralized government, more agriculture, warriors • Sasanids – furthered system of administration, cultivated rice, sugar, fruits, eggplant in Iran. Fought against growing Roman Empire

  11. Imperial Society & Economy • Public life and social structure became more complicated • Centralized imperial governments • Educated classes • Trade, art, craftsmen, and professionals • Increased gap between rich and poor • More slavery – enslaving conquered forces

  12. Social Development in Classical Persia • Early Achaemenid Empire – Medes & Persians had social structure similar to Aryans in India, • Warriors, priests, peasants • Family and clan relationships very important • Various other ethnic groups • Imperial administration led to growing numbers of bureaucrats – administrators, tax collectors, record keepers – challenged warrior elite

  13. Free Classes • People were free but did not live like clan leaders and bureaucrats • Free peoples in cities – artisans, craftsmen, merchants, low-ranking civil servants • Free peoples in countryside – peasants that owned their owned land, workers • Religious observances

  14. Economic Foundations in Classical Persia • Agriculture based –support military, bureaucrats, residents • Trade from India to Egypt • Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, banks, taxes • Specialization of production in different regions • Trade promoted because of relative political stability, general prosperity, standardized coins, and good trade routes

  15. Religions of Salvation • Cross-cultural influences led to development of Persian religion • Zoroastrianism (6th century B.C.E.) • Idea of supreme god (Ahura Mazda) • Gathas (Zarathustra’s works) - • Not strict monotheists (6 lesser deities) • Good vs. Evil • Purpose of life was not to get to some heaven • Influenced Islam, Christianity, Judaism

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