1. Empire: Persians and Greeks
Mrs. Hoff

2. What is an Empire?
A group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom.

3. Common features of an empire
All empires controlled large areas and populations.
All empires were brought together by conquest and funded in part by taking wealth from conquered peoples.

4. Common features of an empire
All empires stimulated the exchange of ideas, cultures, and values among the people they conquered.
All empires tried to make people more loyal to the leaders than local identities and loyalties.
All empires ultimately collapsed.

5. Differences to look for:
Some empires tried to rule through local elites; others sought to rule with more centralized power structures.
Some empires are new; some draw on older traditions.
Some last for longer periods than others.
Some assimilated conquered peoples more quickly and completely than others.

6. Persian Empire BCE

7. Persian Empire
In 500 BCE, it was the largest and most impressive empire.
Persians originated in present day Iran.
Copied old system of government from former Mesopotamian civilizations.
Much larger and more splendid than past civilizations.

8. Persian Empire Famous leaders:
Cyrus and Darius I expanded the empire from Egypt to India
Diverse empire with population of around 35 million people.

9. Persepolis

10. Persian Empire Kingship
King rules by the will of Ahura Mazda, the god.
Absolute monarchy (means the king had unlimited power)

11. Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil
Ahura Mazda “Holy Spirit”
Ahriman “Destructive Spirit”

12. Persian Empire To keep the empire together:
Violent punishments by the king
Effective administration system
Satraps governed the empire’s 23 provinces
Local officials answer to satraps
System of imperial spies

14. Persian Empire Respect for non-Persian cultural traditions
Cyrus allowed Jews to return from Babylonian exile and rebuild Jerusalem temple
Persians adopted foreign customs readily

15. Persian Empire Standardized coinage, predictable taxes
Immense wealth and power
Encouraged communication and commerce
Royal road 1,700 miles across the empire
Mail service for elites

16. Greek Greece begins 750 BCE, lasts about 400 years. Distinct culture
Population 2-3million people
Mountainous, causes development of hundreds of city- states and small settlements
City-state: sovereign state consisting of an autonomous city with its dependencies
Fiercely independent, frequent conflicts

18. Greek Shared a common language and common gods
Between 750 and 500 BCE colonized around the Mediterranean basin and Black Sea area.
Most distinctive feature: popular participation in politics!
Held the first Olympics 776 BCE

20. Greek Politics Equality of all citizens (men) before the law
Extent of citizenship varied depending on time and city
Early Greek history: only wealthy and well-born were citizens.
Gradually expanded to middle- and lower-class men
Important to have the ability to fight for the city-state

21. Greek
Tyrants (dictators) emerged in many areas, supported by the poorer classes against the rich.
Sparta gave most political authority to the Council of Elders
Athens was different, more democratic

22. Greek
Athens:
Intense class conflict led to reforms by Solon in 594BCE. Rights of citizens continued to expand over time.
By 450 BCE, holders of public office were chosen by lottery and paid
Assembly was open to all citizens and the center of political life

23. Greek Empire Differences between Athenian and modern democracy
Direct democracy, not representative
Women, slaves, and foreigners were all excluded.

24. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars
Persians: embarrassing, but the failure of the Persian invasion of Greece had very little impact on the Persian Empire

26. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars
Greeks:
Defeating the Persians was a source of enormous pride for the Greeks.
Confirmed their view that Greek political systems were superior, Persian despotism was inferior.
Despot means a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power.

27. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars
More men become citizens in Athens. Rowers in the navy insisted on full citizenship.
Golden Age of Greek culture
Parthenon built
Greek theatre born
Socrates begins his career as a philosopher.

28. Socrates

31. Consequences of the Greco-Persian Wars
Leads to a civil war, known as the Peloponnesian War when Athens tries to dominate the Greek city-states.
Eventually leads to Alexander the Great (from Macedonia) conquering Greece.