The Persian Empire CHW 3M

The Start of an Empire Beginning of Bronze age Indo-Europeans move into modern day Iran split into two groups, Persian (south) Medes (north) In 550 BC Cyrus the great units Persian tribes defeats Media continues to conquered “civilized world”

A Different Kind of King Cyrus believed in order to keep control of his the new empire his new subjects had to be happy cities were not destroyed subjects were given religious freedom allowed exhaled Jews to return to promised land from Babylon Cyrus’ Legacy In addition to building a grand Empire Cyrus’s the Great also a very efficient administrator. set up law code established empire wide system of weights, measurements and currency established Aramaic as international language completed canal from Nile to Red Sea build huge sea fleet

A Multicultural Empire Persian made distinction between conquering kingdoms and ruling kingdoms power turned over to local governor (satrap) kingdoms became provinces when visited provinces King adopted customs of locals Lead to an empire of many nationalities

The Persian empire was held together by an extensive network of roads huge army To pay for the massive empire subjects were taxed but it wasn’t burdensome. People could enjoy the administration of the empire and local economies grew The system of government used in Persia would eventually be adopted by the Greeks and then the Romans

Belief Systems Ancient Persian belief system was originally polytheists. Religious practices included animal sacrifice, lots of fire drinking intoxicant In 600 B.C. the prophet and teacher Zoroaster, founded a new religion, Zoroastrianism. life is a conflict between good and evil resurrection of the dead final judgement where good triumphs. Spiritual battle between the one good god, Ahuramazda and god of evil and darkness Ahriman Zoroastrianism still practice in India by small group called Parsees