Chapter 7 The Empires of Persia Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Persian Empires Centered around contemporary (modern-day) Iran Four major dynasties Achaemenids (558–330 B.C.E.) Seleucids (323–83 B.C.E.) Parthians (247 B.C.E. –224 C.E.) Sassanids (224–651 C.E.) Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Achaemenid Empire (558–330 B.C.E.) Migration of Indo-Europeans (including Persians) from central Asia, before 1000 B.C.E.—part of larger Indo-European migrations Capitalized on weakening Assyrian and Babylonian empires establish new empires in Mesopotamia, Egypt & India Cyrus (r. 558–530 B.C.E.) founded dynasty “Cyrus the Great” Proved himself to be a strong leader & military strategist who helped expand the Achaemenid Empire from India to Egypt Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Achaemenid Empire (558–330 B.C.E.) Empire’s peak under Darius (r. 521–486 B.C.E.) Ruled from Indus to the Aegean; Armenia to the Nile Empire encompassed many geographical areas, population of 35 million Within empire: 70 ethnic groups who lived in different places & spoke many languages  need to establish lines of communication with all groups Magnificent capital at Persepolis Administrative center & monument of Achaemenid Empire Reception halls, royal residences, treasury with many advisors, translators, accountants, bureaucratic offices Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Darius’ Achievements: Achaemenid Empire Under Darius: lands divided into provinces, run by satraps Responsible for spreading messages of the king Twenty-three administrative divisions Satraps were mainly Persian, but staff principally local Vast distance of empire  checks! System of spies (“inspectors”), surprise audits (satraps checked on by inspectors) Purpose: Minimized possibilities of local rebellion Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Achaemenid Administration: Darius’ other achievements Instituted regular tax payments, standardized currency (coins) for taxation purposes Modified laws when necessary to meet the needs of his empire The Royal Road, 1,500 miles Took ~90 days to travel, had caravanserai— combination inns & markets for people traveling by camel caravan Postal service: ability to carry messages across Royal Road in 2 weeks Also improved established highways/routes between Mesopotamia & Egypt, built new roads linking Persia to other parts of the empire (~8,000 miles)  improved trade  larger economy Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Decline of the Achaemenid Empire Vast empire and extensive public works Qanat system of underground canals Spread of iron metallurgy Policy of religious toleration under Cyrus, Darius (especially Darius) Darius: allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild temple in Jerusalem More difficult relations under Xerxes (r. 486–465 B.C.E.) Rebellions in Mesopotamia, Egypt harshly repressed  Increasing public discontent Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Persian Wars (500–479 B.C.E.) Persians tried to absorb Greece into empire but defeated at Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.E.), retreated Under Xerxes: further conflict with Greeks while trying to expand again Battle of Thermopylae: defeat of Spartans & allies Rebellious Ionian Greeks (Anatolia): assertion of independence & execution/expulsion of governors of Persian Empire Joined by peninsular Greeks—Athenians & allies (including Ionian Greeks) formed the Delian League Intermittent problems w/Greeks for 150 years, Athens & Sparta eventually fight in Peloponnesian War Wars weakened empire, Xerxes not tolerant of others like his father Darius Achaemenid empire ultimately invaded and conquered, 334–330 B.C.E., by Alexander the Great/Alexander of Macedon Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Meanwhile, in Macedonia… While Greeks & Persians fighting: Macedonia becomes stronger under Philip II Conquered all of the Greek city-states besides Sparta Was assassinated  son Alexander takes over Why was Alexander Great? (We will talk more about him with Greece!!) Married Persian women  increased relations with Persia Founded center of Hellenistic/Greek culture at Alexandria, Egypt Conquests throughout Eurasia  spread of Hellenistic culture (language, architecture, mythology & philosophy—more about this later!) Alexander dies, huge empire divided by Seleucids (Asia) and Ptolemies (Egypt) Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Seleucid Empire After Alexander the Great’s death (323 B.C.E.), empire divided by generals Best part went to Seleucus (r. 305–281 B.C.E.) Maintained Achaemenid systems of administration & taxation, postal service, imperial roads Not very strong Faced rebellion in India, invasion of Parthians Satraps revolted against rulers 3rd century B.C.E.: Parthians begin to take over; Seleucid Empire officially taken over by Romans in 83 B.C.E. Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Achaemenid and Seleucid Empires, 558–330 B.C.E. and 323–83 B.C.E.

The Parthian Empire Seminomadic Parthians progressively took over Iran from Seleucids during third century B.C.E. Powerful empire extended to Mesopotamia Federated governmental structure—met in councils & jointly determined policy Developed effective way to resist nomadic invaders w/ especially strong cavalry Fed horses alfalfa in winter  animals would grow bigger  could support warriors with metal armor Use of satraps to rule empire (unsuccessful rebellions vs. government); Achaemenid form of taxation Weakened by ongoing wars with Romans Fell to internal rebellion to Sassanids Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Sassanid Empire (224–651 C.E.) Claimed descent from Achaemenids, re-created Achaeminid achievements capital city, system of administration, active trade w/east & west) Introduced rice, sugarcane, cotton into Iran Continual conflicts with Rome, Byzantium in the west, Kush in the east Creation of buffer states to protect themselves vs. Romans Promotion of Zoroastrianism, persecution of Christians Belief of Christians being sympathetic to Romans Overwhelmed by Arab conquest (expansion of Islam) in 651 C.E. Persian administration and culture absorbed into new Islamic society Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Parthian and Sassanid Empires, 247 C.E.–651 C.E. Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Social Development in Classical Persia Early steppe traditions Consisted largely of warriors, priests, peasants Family and clan relationships very important Male warriors – head of clans (patriarchy w/women having some rights) Creation of bureaucrat class with empire Tax collectors, record keepers, translators To be a bureaucrat = comfortable & important place in society Bulk of society was free Artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil servants Priests, priestesses, temple servants Rural peasants Similar to Mesopotamia: ability to participate in religious observances @ local temples, share in income temples generated Women were able to buy & own property, allowed to keep wages from working in shops, participated in economic activities Wearing of veils to advertise social status; could get divorces! Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Slaves Number of slaves found in Persia much greater than in other areas Prisoners of war, conquered populations, debtors Found in cities AND countryside (not just a city thing) Children, spouses also sold into slavery Principally domestic servitude Some agricultural labor, public works Many owned by temple communities Gimillu of Eanna in Uruk: shows some slaves had close, personal relationships w/powerful ppl who could protect them records of misdeeds (bribery, embezzlement of temple funds) but still held high position in temple community & never received harsh punishment Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Economic Foundations Several areas exceptionally fertile Vast quantities of produce flowed into imperial court Use of standardized coins (easier to use), banks, and investment in commercial ventures Long-distance trade grew rapidly on Persian roads (India to Egypt, both land & sea trade) Trade  mixing & mingling of religious faiths, art styles, philosophy Various regions all contributed particular products to economy Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Zarathustra and His Faith Earliest Persian religions: recognition of many of the same Aryan gods, sacrifices Emergence of Zoroastrianism Zarathustra, prophet of Ahura Mazda (“wise lord”), perhaps late seventh and early sixth centuries B.C.E. Elusive doctrine—early teachings transmitted orally Priests of Zarathustra known as magi Sassanid period, Gathas composed (hymns in honor of deities) Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda, Angra Mainyu Judgment of human souls according to thoughts, words, deeds  reward or punishment Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Officially Sponsored Zoroastrianism Under Alexander, massacre of magi, burning of Zoroastrian temples Hymns & holy verses disappeared because most doctrines at this time were still transmitted orally. Weak Parthian support Major revival under Sassanids Persecution of non-Zoroastrians, especially if religion followed threatened strength of Zoroastrianism Discrimination under Islamic conquerors; some fled to India, most stayed in Iran and converted to Islam Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

The Ahura Mazda, “wise lord” is often portrayed in art as having wings Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

Other Faiths Numerous communities of Jews in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Persia (after Kingdom of David & Solomon fell in 930 B.C.E.) Cyrus releases Jews from capitivity in Bablyon when empire was conquered: 536 BCE Three religions of salvation also attracted converts in Persian empire: Buddhism, Christianity, Manichaeism Influence of Zoroastrianism Omnipotent deity responsible for all creation Conflict with evil Moral judgment, rewards in paradise Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.