THE ASSYRIAN ( BCE) AND PERSIAN ( BCE) EMPIRES Assyrian warship Assyrian King Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions

ASSYRIA ( BCE) Semitic-speaking people Semitic-speaking people Used iron weapons to establish an empire Used iron weapons to establish an empire Modern reproduction of Assyrian sword and shield

GOVERNMENT Ruled by kings with absolute power Ruled by kings with absolute power Well-organized Well-organized Officials developed an efficient communication system Officials developed an efficient communication system Sargon II was the most important leader Sargon II was the most important leader Assyrian winged bull from Sargons palace

ACCOMPLISHMENTS Created one of the worlds finest libraries at Nineveh: Ashurbanipal Established Aramaic as official language Effective military Assyrians had the first large armies equipped with iron weapons Used guerilla warfare, various siege tactics, and terror Infantry Assyrian battering ram

FALL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE The Chaldeans and Medes (people who lived in the east) joined together to conquer the Assyrians The fall of Nineveh preceded the fall of the Assyrian Empire They divided the empire Tablet detailing the destruction of Nineveh

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BETWEEN THE EMPIRES Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar Chaldean King Chaldean King Made Babylonia the strongest city in western Asia Made Babylonia the strongest city in western Asia Famous hanging gardens Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 BC Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 BC This marked the end of the Mesopotamian empires This marked the end of the Mesopotamian empires Persians adopted Assyrian military, political and artistic inventions Persians adopted Assyrian military, political and artistic inventions Nebuchadnezzar faces off against King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah

PERSIA (559 BCE- 360 BCE) Persians Persians Indo-Europeans who lived in modern Iran Indo-Europeans who lived in modern Iran Mostly nomadic Eventually united by one family (Achaemenids) Contemporaries of Greeks Contemporaries of Greeks Persian Empire was massive and grew larger than the prior Mesopotamian empires Persian Empire was massive and grew larger than the prior Mesopotamian empires Established durable political and cultural traditions Fertile farmland and thriving trade

CYRUS THE GREAT – 559 BC Created a powerful state through warfare Created a powerful state through warfare Indus River to Anatolia Demonstrated wisdom, compassion, and mercy Had a genuine respect for other cultures and practiced tolerance of local customs Had a genuine respect for other cultures and practiced tolerance of local customs Respected temples Jews returned to Jerusalem

DARIUS – 521 BCE Bodyguard for Cambyses (son of Cyrus) and one of the Ten Thousand Immortals ConquerorConqueror Added part of India to Persian EmpireAdded part of India to Persian Empire Conquered Thrace (in Europe) Invaded Greek mainland Halted at the Battle of Marathon Created worlds largest empire at that timeCreated worlds largest empire at that time

Government Strengthened Divided empire into 20 ethnic provincesDivided empire into 20 ethnic provinces Satraps: GovernorSatraps: Governor Homelands Created efficient communication systemCreated efficient communication system Like the Assyrians, Darius had a secret spy force – Kings Eyes and Ears The King had the power of life and death

MilitaryMilitary Empires power depended upon the militaryEmpires power depended upon the military Included standing army of professional soldiersIncluded standing army of professional soldiers cavalry and infantrycavalry and infantry Effective road systemEffective road system

XERXES Son of DariusSon of Darius Stopped rebellion in Egypt and attacked GreeceStopped rebellion in Egypt and attacked Greece Greece Battle of Thermopylae (Against 300 Spartans!)Battle of Thermopylae (Against 300 Spartans!) Battle of Salamis Was defeated and returned to PersiaWas defeated and returned to Persia

ZOROASTRIANISM Persian religion Named after its prophet -- ZoroasterPersian religion Named after its prophet -- Zoroaster TenetsTenets Proto-Monotheistic: Ahura MazdaProto-Monotheistic: Ahura Mazda Humans play a role in the struggle between good and evilHumans play a role in the struggle between good and evil Humans are given the freedom to choose between right and wrongHumans are given the freedom to choose between right and wrong

FALL OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE Kings became isolated and focused on obtaining luxuries, following DariusKings became isolated and focused on obtaining luxuries, following Darius Struggles over the throne weakened the monarchyStruggles over the throne weakened the monarchy Family problemsFamily problems Eventually defeated by Alexander the GreatEventually defeated by Alexander the Great Persian archer