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The Persian Empire. Hector Gaona & Daniel Mickunas. Key Terms. . Cyrus the Great : died 529 BC) King of Persia and founder of the Persian Empire; he defeated the Median army and united the Persians and Medians under his rule.
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The Persian Empire Hector Gaona & Daniel Mickunas
Key Terms. • Cyrus the Great: died 529 BC)King of Persia and founder of the Persian Empire; he defeated the Median army and united the Persians and Medians under his rule. • Darius I: (550–486 BC) King of Persia from 522 to 486 BC; he reorganized and strengthened the Persian Empire by reforming the army and the government. • Satraps: governors of ancient Persia. • Xerxes: (c. 519–465 BC) King of Persia; his armies invaded Greece but were eventually defeated by the Greeks.
Zoroaster: (c. 628–c. 551 BC) Religious teacher and prophet of ancient Persia; he founded a religion known as Zoroastrianism based on the idea that people have free will and can act as they choose. • Dualism: the belief that the world is controlled by two opposing forces, good and evil.
The Persian Empire • The Persians formed one of the largest and best governed empires in the world at that time and made great cultural achievements.
Growth and organization • Persia under the Medes • Persians allowed to keep their own leaders as long as they did not rebel
Cyrus the Great • Cyrus the Great (Cyrus II) • Defeated Medes in 559 BC • Expanded Persian Empire • On his death in 530 B.C. he ruled the largest empire in the world. • His son, Cambyses II became emperor after his fathers death and expanded his empire into Egypt • He was killed on his way back to Persia to stop a rebellion that was taking place and Persia was without a ruler.
Persia in Decline • Rule of Darius high point of Persian culture • Son, Xerxes, failed to conquer Greece • Last strong ruler of Persia
Zoroastrianism • During the reigns of Cyrus and Darius, a new religion called Zoroastrianism took hold, based on the teachings of Zoroaster. • Spread • Much of Persian Empire • Darius worshipped Ahura Mazda • Other religions discouraged • The Greeks converted the Persians • Zoroastrianism never completely disappeared.
Zoroastrianism • Teachings • Ahura Mazda, source of good(World was created by him). • Ahriman, evil spirit • Dualism = world is controlled by good and evil • Free will • The Avesta • End of time
Persian Achievements Blended Culture • Cyrus and Darius encouraged cultural unity • Shared culture led to peace and a blending into a single Persian Culture. • People worked together to improve empire
Art and Architecture •Animals a common subject in their art. •Persepolis, monument to Persia’s glory •Greatest example of Persian architecture