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THE PERSIANS

THE PERSIANS. THE HEIGHT OF SOUTHWEST ASIA’S CLASSICAL SOCIETIES. AP. THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE. The Medes Migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000 B.C.E. Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with the Aryans Persians were one of the tribes of Medes

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THE PERSIANS

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  1. THE PERSIANS THE HEIGHT OF SOUTHWEST ASIA’S CLASSICAL SOCIETIES AP

  2. THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE • The Medes • Migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000 B.C.E. • Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with the Aryans • Persians were one of the tribes of Medes • Cyrus the Great (reigned 558-530 B.C.E.) • A tough, wily leader, military strategist • Became the king in 548 BCE • Established vast empire stretching from India to Mediterranean • Viewed favorably in the Old Testament: allowed Jews to return home • Darius (re. 521-486 B.C.E.) • A young kinsman of Cyrus • Built the largest empire in world history: conquered Indus Valley • Ruled more than 70 ethnic groups • Built new capital at Persepolis, 520 B.C.E. Darius

  3. Artist’s conception of Ancient Persepolis, Darius’ s capital

  4. ADMINISTRATION • Divided the empire into twenty-three satrapies • Satraps (governors) appointed by the central government • Local officials were drawn from local peoples • Local policies included self-government, toleration • Satraps' power • Represent Emperor, maintain defense, collect taxes • Checked by military officers and "imperial spies“ • Checked by Zoroastrianism, codes of honor, fear of Emperor • Military: largest in history until Romans, Chinese • Common levies from each province • Persian cavalry; Persian Immortals: elite shock troops • Mercenaries included Greeks • Standardized coinage and laws • Communication systems • Persian Royal Road links Susa (Asia Minor, Lydia to Susa, in Persia) • Postal stations with postal relay riders

  5. THE WARS WITH GREECE • Xerxes (reigned 486-465 B.C.E.) • Retreated from the policy of cultural toleration • Caused ill will and rebellions among subject peoples • The Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.) • Ionian Greeks rebelled • Mainland Greek free city states sent aid to rebels • Persian rulers took five years to put down rebellion • Xerxes and Darius invaded Greece to punish Greeks • Lost both land and sea battles to Greeks • Battles of Marathon • Battle of Salamis

  6. IMPERIAL SOCIETY, ECONOMY • Social Development in Classical Persia • Nomadic character of early Persian society • Similar to the Aryans in India • Importance of family and clan relationships • Imperial bureaucrats • Imperial administration called for educated bureaucrats • Shared power and influence with warriors and clan leaders • Free classes • In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil servants • In the countryside: peasants - building underground canals (qanat) • Slaves in both cities and countryside • Economic Foundations of Classical Persia • Agriculture was the economic foundation • Main crops: Barley and wheat • Supplemental crops: peas, lentils, mustard, garlic, onions, cucumber • Large agricultural surplus • Trade • Commercial zone from India to Egypt • Political stability promoted growth of trade • Standardized coins (Gold Darics were first in world), good trade routes • Specialization of production in different regions

  7. The Qanat System qanat ancient type of water-supply system developed and still used in arid regions of the world. A qanat taps underground mountain water sources trapped in and beneath the upper reaches of alluvial fans and channels the water downhill through a series of tunnels, often several kilometers long, to the places where it is needed for irrigation and domestic use. The development of qanats probably began about 2,500 years ago in Iran. The technology spread eastward to Afghanistan and westward to Egypt. Currently, several thousand qanats are still used in Iran and Afghanistan, chiefly for irrigation. Encyclopedia Britannica Encyclopedia

  8. The Qanat System

  9. The Qanat System

  10. PERSIAN RELIGION • Zarathustra and his faith • Earliest Persian religion resembled that of the Aryans • Zoroastrianism, emerged from the teachings of Zarathustra • The Gathas • Zoroastrian teachings, transmitted orally, many perished • Preserved later in writing, by magi • Compilation of the holy scriptures, ZendAvesta, under Sasanid dynasty • Zarathustra's own writing survived, known as Gathas • Zoroastrian teachings • Ahura Mazda as a supreme deity, with six lesser deities • Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman, Shaitan) • Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward and punishment • The material world as a blessing • Moral formula: good words, good thoughts, good deeds • Popularity of Zoroastrianism • Attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites • Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God • The faith was most popular in Iran • Sizable followings in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and other regions

  11. RELIGIONS OF SALVATION • Zoroastrian community suffered during Alexander's invasion • Zoroastrianism was the official religion during Sasanid rule • The Zoroastrians' difficulties • Extreme rivalries with Christianity (Orthodox, Monophysites) • Arabs conquered Sasanid empire, seventh century C.E. • Some Zoroastrians fled to India • Remaining Zoroastrians converted to Islam • Few faithful Zoroastrians still exist in modern day Iran • Other faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, and Manichaeism • Influence of Zoroastrians • Influence on Jewish religion: belief in future reward and punishment • Influence on Christianity: concepts of heaven and hell • Later influenced Islam; one of Muhammad’s protected faiths

  12. ALEXANDER AND HIS HEIRS • Alexander of Macedon • Invaded Persia in 334 B.C.E. • Battle of Gaugamela, ended Achaemenid empire, 331 B.C.E. • Alexander burned the city of Persepolis, conquered whole empire • The Diadoche • Successor states to Alexander • Divided his empire between them • The Seleucids • Inherited the largest part of the former Achaemenid empire • Ruled Asia Minor, Fertile Crescent, Iran • Empire originally extended into India, Central Asia • Retained the Achaemenid system of administration • Met opposition from native Persians • Lost control over northern India and Iran

  13. SUCCESSORS TO PERSIA • The Parthians • Overthrew Selecuids in 238 BCE; based in Iran, extended to Mesopotamia • Retained some traditions of nomadic people • Formidable power of Parthian heavy cavalry because of alfalfa diet of horses • Established a mighty empire through East SW Asia by conquests • Parthian government • Portrayed themselves as restorers of the Persian tradition • Followed the example of the Achaemenids in administration • Clan leaders as satraps: potential threats for central government • Opposed expanding Roman empire, 1st century C.E. • Internal rebellion brought it down in the early 3rd century C.E. • The Sasanids • From Persia, claimed direct descent from the Achaemenids • Toppled the Parthians in 224 C.E., new capital at Ctesiphon • Government stronger, better organized, more absolute than Parthian • Traded throughout Arabia, SW Asia, Indian Ocean, across Central Asia to China • Devout Zoroastrians much opposed to early spread of Christianity • Battled the Kushan Empire in the east • Battled the Roman and Byzantine empires in the west, 3rd century C.E. • In 651 C.E., the empire was incorporated into the expanding Islamic empire

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