AP World History POD #2 Cradle of Civilization Assyria and Persia

Class Discussion Questions McKay- “Assyria, The Military Monarchy”, pp McKay- “The Empire of the Persian Kings”, pp

1. How did geography force the Assyrians to adopt a warlike society? Geography was against the Assyrians as they lived in an open, exposed location and had to create a strong military for security purposes The Assyrian army was greatly feared for its efficiency and brutality

2. What events and policies led to Assyrian dominance? The use of military power to dominate the region. The military was a necessity as the empire was exposed to danger and enemies on an open plain. The military created fear among the people it conquered

3. What events and policies led to the Assyrian decline? Assyria was defeated by the Babylonians and Medes in 612 BC and Persia was left to fill the power vacuum

4. What was the Babylonian Captivity? The northern kingdom of Israel destroyed by the Assyrians, but the southern kingdom of Judah continued to survive until being crushed by the Babylonians in 587BC Upon defeat by Babylon the survivors were sent into exile in Babylonia until they were released by the Persian king Cyrus the Great in 538 BC During this time and especially after the exiles redefined their beliefs to incorporate the law of Yahweh and the Covenant These people became known as the Jews

5. Who was Cyrus the Great? Created one of the greatest empires of antiquity- he thought of Iran as a state and gave Near Eastern people respect, toleration, and protection Under Cyrus, the Persian empire stretched from the Mediterranean coast, through Anatolia and Mesopotamia, Persia, and to the western slopes of the Hindu Kush mountains in the east

6. What made the policies of Cyrus the Great unique for both the time and region? Conquered people were under the control of the Persian Empire but were allowed to continue practicing their culture, religion, language, etc. This policy created an era of peace an prosperity as it appeased those who had been conquered

7. How did Cyrus the Great deal with the Babylonian Captivity? He ended the Babylonian Captivity by allowing the Jews to return to Palestine in 538 BC

8. What is Zoroastrianism? Zoroaster taught the concept of the Last Judgment Zoroaster emphasized individual responsibility to choose between good and evil Zoroaster taught that good behavior would be rewarded in the afterlife Zoroaster taught that bad behavior would be punished in the afterlife Zoroaster would go on to influence Judaism, Christianity, and early Islam