The Persian Empire

The Rise of Persia Persians will use diplomacy and tolerance with strong military to back up policies Ancient Persia included modern day Iran 1000 BCE Indo-Europeans migrate to Iran Good resources which helped trade Copper, lead, gold, silver Organized into tiny kingdoms at first

Cyrus the Great Forges an Empire 550 BCE Cyrus began Persia’s conquest of neighbors Empire spanned over 2,000 miles Soldiers had leather pants and thick boots and short bows Army was very successful between 550-539 BCE conquering the entire Fertile Crescent and most of Anatolia

The Rule of Cyrus the Great He was kind to people he conquered No looting or burning of villages he conquered Honored local customs and religions Pray at local temples Subject peoples had freedom Allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem (remember they were exiled by the Babylonians) Died fighting nomadic groups

The Rule of Cambyses and Darius Cambyses, Cyrus’s son, captured Egypt but was not fair and good to them so there were widespread rebellions 522-521 BCE Darius, a noble of the ruling dynasty, seized the throne Extended Persian conquests in the east Never managed to capture Greece Established an efficient and well- organized administration

Provinces and Satraps King divided empire into 20 provinces in order to control them Each province could practice its own religion, follow its own laws, and speak its own language A Satrap (governor) was appointed to rule over each territory Army leader and tax collection for each province Darius sent out inspectors to ensure the loyalty of the satraps

The Royal Road Enhances Trade and Communication Stretched 1,677 miles 111 relay stations along the road spaced about 15 miles apart Manufactured metal coins that had a standard value, which promoted trade

Zoroastrianism Zoroaster was a Persian prophet that lived about 600 BCE and addressed the question of human suffering Zoroastrianism Two armies that fight for a person’s soul Ahura Mazda- god of truth and light Ahriman – god of evil and darkness When you die, souls are judged based on which god they followed and would either go to paradise or a fiery pit Avesta- holy writings of the religion Spread to parts of India where it became the Parsi sect Influenced Manicheanism, a religious system that competed with Christianity

The Legacy of the Persian Empire Brought political order to southwest Asia Respect for conquered cultures allowed those cultures to flourish for years