1. Student Notes Persian Empire
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2. Cyrus the Great
Cyrus led the Persians in a revolt to overthrow the Medes.
He treated the people he conquered fairly and earned their loyalty.
His army grew until it numbered in the hundreds of thousands.

3. Cyrus the Great
Cyrus next led his troops Northwest to conquer the kingdom of Lydia.
Lydia was the first culture to use coins. Persia spread this idea.

4. Cyrus the Great Cyrus created the largest empire on Earth.
Cyrus then conquered the Chaldeans and captured the capital city of Babylon.
Cyrus created the largest empire on Earth.

5. Cyrus the Great Honored local customs Honored local religions
A tolerant ruler  he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.
Honored local customs
Honored local religions
580 – 530 B. C.

6. Cyrus the Great
538 BC - Allowed the Jews to return to their homeland, Jerusalem
Considered by the Jews to be one of God’s anointed ones

7. Darius
After the death of King Cyrus, Darius, who was a soldier in the Persian army, became king.

8. Darius
Built Persepolis into a huge capital city
He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)

9. Darius Provinces are political districts like states
Divided Persia into provinces—made it easier to govern
Provinces are political districts like states
Established a tax-collecting system
Began a complex postal system

10. The Royal Road
The Royal Road was built to make trading faster and safer
Silk was first brought to the West along this road