Ch. 7 Empires of Persia The Achaemenid Empire The Selucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires Social and Economic Developments Religions in Persian Society

4 major Empires of Persia Achaemenid, (558- 330 B.C.E.) Seleucid (323- 83 B.C.E.) Parthian (247- 224 B.C.E.) Sasanid (224- 651 C.E.) controlled much of the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and India for over one thousand years, from about 550 B.C.E. through 650 C.E.

The Achaemenid Empire People: Medes & Persians migrated from central Asia to Persia (modern day Iran), who became peoples of Achaemenid Empire Leaders: Cyrus the Shepard, Cambyses, Darius Center of Empire: Persepolis -full of advisors, ministers, diplomats, scirbes, accountants, translators, bureaucratic officers Political: - balance between central dominance and local administration -appointed governors to different regions for central control -divided into satrapies – administrative and taxation districts -taxes, laws, standardized coins

Darius the Great

The Royal Road Archaemenid Empire built roads, some of them stone, and courier service

At the Height of the Empire… Roads and administrative control allowed empire to extend Laws and justice maintained stability Qanat –underground canals- improved agriculture and led to more population Iron Metallurgy – iron tools used in agriculture throughout empire

Decline & Fall of Empire Cyrus & Darius promoted toleration of multicultural empire and various ethnic groups Xerxes (Darius successor) imposed his own values and moved away from toleration People of Mesopotamia and Eygpt resented Xerxes and rebelled. Ionian Greeks (500 B.C.E.) rebelled and asserted independence Known as the Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E)

Decline & Fall of Empire 150 years of battles and wars with Greek city-states Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.E.) -Persian loss Alexander the Great defeated Persians with 48,000 Macedonians Battle of Gaugamela (331 B.C.E) – Alexander the great defeated Achaemenid forces and empire was finished

Alexander the Great

The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires (After Alexander the Greats’ death) Alexander the Greats’ empire was divided into 3 realms Seleucid –reigned using Archaemenid systems of administration & taxation, royal roads and postal service Parthians –took over Iran, seminomadic, no centralized government, more agriculture, warriors Sasanids – furthered system of administration, cultivated rice, sugar, fruits, eggplant in Iran. Fought against growing Roman Empire

Imperial Society & Economy Public life and social structure became more complicated Centralized imperial governments Educated classes Trade, art, craftsmen, and professionals Increased gap between rich and poor More slavery – enslaving conquered forces

Social Development in Classical Persia Early Achaemenid Empire – Medes & Persians had social structure similar to Aryans in India, Warriors, priests, peasants Family and clan relationships very important Various other ethnic groups Imperial administration led to growing numbers of bureaucrats – administrators, tax collectors, record keepers – challenged warrior elite

Free Classes People were free but did not live like clan leaders and bureaucrats Free peoples in cities – artisans, craftsmen, merchants, low-ranking civil servants Free peoples in countryside – peasants that owned their owned land, workers Religious observances

Economic Foundations in Classical Persia Agriculture based –support military, bureaucrats, residents Trade from India to Egypt Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, banks, taxes Specialization of production in different regions Trade promoted because of relative political stability, general prosperity, standardized coins, and good trade routes

Religions of Salvation Cross-cultural influences led to development of Persian religion Zoroastrianism (6th century B.C.E.) Idea of supreme god (Ahura Mazda) Gathas (Zarathustra’s works) - Not strict monotheists (6 lesser deities) Good vs. Evil Purpose of life was not to get to some heaven Influenced Islam, Christianity, Judaism