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The Ancient Middle East

The Ancient Middle East. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY Edited Mr. Stonehill - THHS. Classical Western Eurasia 1000 BCE-600 CE. Assyrians/Babylonians – (mid 700s- mid 500s BCE) Persian Empire – (mid 500s – mid 300s BCE) – largest empire until that point in history

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The Ancient Middle East

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  1. The Ancient Middle East Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY Edited Mr. Stonehill - THHS

  2. Classical Western Eurasia 1000 BCE-600 CE Assyrians/Babylonians – (mid 700s- mid 500s BCE) Persian Empire – (mid 500s – mid 300s BCE) – largest empire until that point in history Greek City States – Athens Golden Age – (400s – 300s BCE) – Western Culture “begins” Hellenistic Empires – Alexander the Great and spread of Greek culture (300 BCE-100 CE) – Greece conquers Persia Roman Republic – (500s – 43 BCE) – Rome develops as regional power Roman Empire – (43 BCE – 476 CE) – Roman Dominates Western Eurasian world

  3. The Persian Empire

  4. The Persian Empire

  5. Questions - Map • Name the different areas within the Persian Empire? • In which part of Empire has the most territory? • Which part of the Persian Empire has the most cities?

  6. Cyrus the Great • A tolerant ruler  he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions. • Creator of Persian Empire and conquers Babylonia • The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.” – created a law code giving equality for all different groups in his empire • The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537 BCE, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine). 580 – 529 B. C. E.

  7. Questions • Why was Cyrus the Great truly a Great ruler? • What makes Babylonia an ideal capital for the Persian Empire? • Why was being “tolerant” a smart way for Cyrus to rule the Persian Empire?

  8. Darius the Great(526 – 485 B. C. E.) • Built Persepolis. • He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.) • Built a canal in Egypt connecting Mediterranean to Red Sea

  9. Darius the Great(526 – 485 B. C. E.) – How to rule an Empire that is too large • Established a tax-collecting system. • Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES. • Built the great Royal Road system. • Established a complex postal system. • Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

  10. Persian Culture and Inventions • Conquest of Babylonia turns Persia into cultural capital of Ancient World • As empire expands Persia will have 4 capitals eventually – Susa, Babylonia, Ecbatana, and Persepolis • Hanging gardens of Persepolis were considered one of the seven Ancient Wonders of the World • Gardens become an art form

  11. Questions • How did Darius successfully rule over such a large Empire? • How does creating Persepolis help Darius? • How does Darius’ canal help the Empire? • How does a bureaucracy help Darius rule?

  12. Ancient Persepolis – architectural wonder

  13. Persepolis

  14. The People of Persepolis

  15. Persian “Royal Road” – how to connect a large empire

  16. Persian Archers & Soldiers

  17. Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words “Tree of Life”

  18. Extent of Zoroastrianism – notice focus to the East

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

  20. Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”) The “Sacred Fire”  the force to fight evil.

  21. Questions • Is Zoroastrianism a “monotheistic” religion? Why/Why not • Define “Gnostic”.

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