1. Persian Empire Bellwork
What was a major accomplishment of Cyrus the Great?
Created empire, tolerant rule, human rights, Expanded Emprie
What was a major accomplishment of Darius the Great?
Royal road, postal system, tax collection, Satrap, Built Perepolis, Expanded empire, toleration

2. Objective
WWBAT: Discuss aspects of Persian Economy and the major beliefs of Zoroastrianism

3. Interactive Notebook Setup
9/29/2016
Persian Society and Persian War
This will be one page

4. Revolt
Persian Economy
Zoroastrianism
Battle of Marathon
Battle of Thermopylae
Battle of Salamis &Palataea

5. Persian Economy Agriculture was the economic foundation
Main crops: Barley and wheat
Long-distance trade benefits from Persian road-building
Goods from India especially valued
Political stability promoted growth of trade

6. Persian Economy
Each region provided a variety of finished and raw goods
Coined money was standardized throughout the entire empire

7. Technologies Qanat: System of underground canals
Avoided excessive loss to evaporation
System began in Persia but spread throughout the world
Extensive road-building
Persian Royal Road
1,600 miles, some of it paved
Courier service

8. Qanat System

9. Wind tower and qanat used for cooling.
Qanat System
By 400 BCE Persian engineers had already mastered the technique of storing ice in the middle of summer in the desert in naturally cooled refrigerators called yakhchal (meaning ice pits) which were connected to qanats..
Wind tower and qanat used for cooling.

10. Zoroastrianism Earliest Persian religion resembled that of the Aryans
Zoroastrianism, emerged from teachings of Zarathustra
The Gathas was the major text of Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrian teachings, transmitted orally, many perished
Preserved later in writing, by magi
Compilation of the holy scriptures, Zend Avesta, under Sasanid dynasty
Zarathustra's own writing survived, known as Gathas

11. Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE: Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words
“Tree of Life”

12. Zoroastrianism Zoroastrian teachings
Ahura Mazda as a supreme deity, with six lesser deities
Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman, Shaitan)
Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward and punishment
The material world as a blessing
Moral formula: good words, good thoughts, good deeds

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

14. Zoroastrianism
Faravahar, or Guardian Spirit: The depiction of the human soul before birth and after death.

15. Zoroastrianism Popularity of Zoroastrianism
Attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites
Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God
The faith was most popular in Iran
Sizable followings in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and other regions

16. Extent of Zoroastrianism

17. Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrian community suffered during Alexander's invasion
Zoroastrianism was the official religion during Sasanid rule
Other faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, and Manichaeism
Influence of Zoroastrians
Influence on Jewish religion: belief in future reward and punishment
Influence on Christianity: concepts of heaven and hell
Later influenced Islam; one of Muhammad’s protected faiths

18. Zend-Avesta (The “Book of Law”)
The “Sacred Fire”  the force to fight evil.