P ERSIAN E MPIRE

O RIGINS Persians were an Indo-European speaking people Location: Southwestern Iran Characteristics Mostly nomadic Organized into tribes (until united by the Achaemenid Family)

A CHAEMENID E MPIRE ( BCE) Cyrus Establishes a centralized Persian Empire by conquering Mesopotamia (Babylonian Empire) Permitted Jews to return to Jerusalem after having been exiled by the Babylonians. Considered merciful and accepted by all conquered peoples as their ruler

T HE E MPIRE

D ARIUS Imperial Organization Divided the Empire into 20 provinces called satrapies Each satrapy was led by a satrap, who was a governor Satraps  “Protectors of the Kingdom” Collected taxes, handed down justice, recruited members of the military

D ARIUS Achievements Uniform system of coinage Aramaic is declared official language of western half of the empire Introduced a postal system Heredotus: “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor darkness of night prevents these couriers from completing their designated stages with utmost speed.“ (Sound familiar?) Expanded empire into India Ahead of his time? Evidence suggests that Darius considered building a canal from the Nile to the Red Sea (Suez Canal anyone?) How would this have changed the world had Darius plan come to fruition?

T HE R OYAL R OAD Ancient highway whose potential was maximized by Darius to better communication 111 posting stations kept messengers and their horses fresh Allowed messengers to travel 1,677 miles in a mere 7 days (undertaking the journey on your own would have taken 3 months)

M ILITARY O RGANIZATION The Immortals Immortals  Elite group of 10,000 soldiers. Also acted as royal bodyguards A fighting group of soldiers was never allowed to dip under 10,000 Soldiers were constantly replaced on the battlefield

THE D ECLINE Causes Greed Kings after Darius became consumed with building luxurious places Increased taxes to support their luxurious surrounding In Fighting Sons killed fathers for the throne, as did half- brothers Xerxes II only rules for 45 days Six out of nine rulers were killed after Darius Alexander the Great Seeing the instability within the Persian Empire, Alexander attacks and conquers the vast majority of the empire. Persepolis

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