Persia and Greece

1. Persia and Greece

2. Greece and Persia • It is a big mistake in many studies of this subject to look at Greece and NOT look at Persia. • When Greece began to form itself as a collective of great city states, Persia was already the largest empire in the world by far.

3. Four Major Powers • Traditionally, the Ancient World was divided into four powers by about 600 BCE. • The Egyptian, and Chaldean (Neo-Babylonian) we have discussed. • Lydian Empire was the inheritor of the Hittite Empire. • Perisa, or modern Iran, was at this time Median.

4. Persian History • Neolithic and early Bronze Age had many different city states and communities – rivaling Mesopotamia. • The Medes, a loose tribal group in Western Iran were united by the attacks of the Assyrians – eventually pushed them out / developed own land (612 BCE) • Medes credited with first Iranian state.

5. Persian Culture • Rank seen openly: same rank gave kiss on lips, different ranks on the cheeks. • Adopted customs of other cultures quickly. • Kings cupbearer an important position in government. • Laws of the land different than edicts of the kings. • King can not execute for a single crime.

6. Persian Culture • Telling a lie a major fault • Unlawful to talk about illegal actions • Falling into debt was a major fault • Persian fathers wanted sons, but could not see them till the age of 5. • Had polygamous marriages.

7. Cyrus the Great • Originally part of the Achemenid people, a group in Eastern Iran, known as the Persis. • Achemenid a minor king in the area, it is his descenent Cyrus II, who is going to create a unified Persian state. • He conquers and negotiates settlements with most of the major powers in area – including Babylonians, Assyrian, Medes, and Lydian empires. • His state would be run on principles of tolerance and semi-autonomous statehood for the pieces of his kingdom.

8. Why did Cyrus create the largest empire in the history of the world to that point? • Local control – created local “satraps” who would be given basic control of an area in exchange for loyalty to Cyrus. • Development of a huge army • Well trained and well fed army • Open trading within empire – minimal restriction on taxation and travel. • Made Pasagard open capital.

9. Cyrus the Great • His ability to be humanist led him to become the great leader to many others. • Even conquered people saw him as great. • Did not enslave conquered people. • 539 – conquered Babylon but “liberated” people. Specifically the Jews.

10. Darius • Persepolis • Royal Roads • Attacked Greeks • View Clip • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQcEmiGCaCo

11. Religion – Two varieties • No major temples or pictures to Gods. Originally a polytheistic society. • Had “Magi”, basically a group of priests. • Led killing of animals for sacrifice • Interpreted dreams • Caste in society

12. Zoroastrianism • Founded before the 6th Century BC (Avestan key book) • Single universal God Ahura Mazda. • Based upon the teachings of Zoroaster or Zarathustra • You have a soul as a human • Basically a religion focused on Order v. Chaos. Ahura Mazda was order and brought chaos into control. • Water and fire considered purifying entities. • Believe in humanity having a role in this struggle.

13. Good Deeds • Good deeds help to keep Chaos at bay. • Humans have free will and can choose to not do good works. • Ahura Mazda will eventually win out against the evil Ahriman (Chaos) and the world will go through cosmic reorganization and time will end. • Just before this period a Sayoshyant, or redeemer to bring the dead back to Ahura Mazda to live with him forever. • So…..there is NOTHING like this in Christianity right? • Scholars believe that Z. influenced Manichaeism – a Gnostic belief.