1. The Conquerors of Everyone
The Persian Empire
The Conquerors of Everyone

2. Start of the Persian Empire
Starts with Indo-European migrations
Came to Persia around 1000 BCE
Known as modern day Iran
Land was farmable and had precious minerals for trading
Made empire rich with traded products

3. Leaders of the Persian Empire
3 major leaders to the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great
Cambyses
Darius I
Other famous Persian Leaders
Xerxes- famous from ‘300’ movie
Fights against Greeks in Persian Wars

4. Persia Under Cyrus & Cambyses
Rules from BCE
Expanded empire from Anatolia to Indus river in only 12 years
Considered a military & political genius
Practiced religious tolerance
Prayed at the statues of a city’s gods
Allowed Jews to return to their homeland
Kept tight rules over his soldiers
Did not allow looting or burning; shows respect
Cambyses takes over when father dies
Conquers Egypt
Does not practice religious tolerance

5. Persia Under King Darius
Comes to power after Cambyses death
Not related to the previous leaders
Used the Ten Thousand Immortals to help
The king’s bodyguards (Darius was one)
Created an efficient government
Split empire in 20 sections; used satraps
Satraps- governors of a province
Expanded empire further
Could not defeat the Greeks
Built the Royal Road
Used to unite Persia for trade and travel
Also used metal coins like in Asia

6. Persian Religion-Zoroastrianism
Zoroaster- Persian prophet
Taught that 2 armies were fighting for a person’s soul
Army of good and light
Army of darkness and evil
Believed that people’s decisions determined their fate in the afterlife
Developed the ideas of heaven, hell and a final judgment day
Similar to the ideas of Christianity, Islam and Judaism
Religion named- Zoroastrianism

7. Persian Story Assignment
You will write a childrens story
Your story must have the following info
Must include all 4 leaders and what they are famous for
Must have at least 4 hand drawn pictures
Must tell where the empire was located
Must discuss Zoroastrianism and its beliefs
Must have the Royal Road
It should start once upon
It needs to be able to be read by children