1. Aim: What were the distinguishing features of the Persian Empire?

2. What differentiates them? Monism Dualism

3. Zoroastrianism  Judaism  Christianity  Islam

4. What do they share? Monism/Dualism
Classic Polytheism:
Many local or regional gods
Explains our place in the world
Protection from famine or war; brings success
Helps unite the people of a town or empire – something in common
“Axial Age” religions:
Consider the problem of individual wrong-doing
Propose that people can act morally and provide guidance to do so
Well-suited to needs of large complex societies and their governments

5. Why should an individual behave correctly?
Religion = “The Carrot” (You will get something)
Law = “The Stick” (You will be punished)

6. Growth of the Assyrian Empire

7. Ethnicities/Tribes of the Assyrian Empire

8. Assyrian Deportation & Resettlement

9. The Persian Empire was B-I-I-I-I-I-G

10. Cyrus the Great

12. Persepolis

13. Darius the Great

14. PERSIAN SATRAPIES

15. “Royal Road” system

16. Alexander the Great

17. The Persian Empire

18. Methods of the Persian Empire
King as a model of virtues and as the representative of the national god – Ahura Mazda
Road System allows movement of goods and armies
Administrative Units: Satraps
Each organized around a previous kingdom
Each with its own capital
Each ruled by a Persian aristocrat w/ help of local elites
Each with its own archives, tax collection, bureaucracy
Local autonomy
Honored local elites; adopted traditions, titles, gods
Public documents in local languages
Little “cultural imperialism”