1. CHAPTER 7: The Empires of Persia The Empires of Persia
9AP WORLD HISTORY

2. Learning objectives for Chapter 7
Explain the rise, expansion, and decline of the early Persian empire.
Compare and contrast the post-Alexandrian empires of southwest Asia.
Discuss social development in classical Persia.
Outline the economic foundations of classical Persia.
Identify important features of Persian salvation religions.

3. Persian Empires Contemporary Iran Four major dynasties
Achaemenids ( BCE)
Seleucids ( BCE)
Parthians (247 BCE-224 CE)
Sasanids ( CE)

4. The Achaemenid and Seleucid Empires, 558-330 B.C.E. and 323-83 B.C.E.
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5. Achaemenid Empire (558-330 BCE)
Migration of Medes and Persians from central Asia, before BCE Indo- Europeans
Capitalized on weakening Assyrian and Babylonian empires

6. Achaemenid Empire (558-330 BCE)
Cyrus (r BCE) founder of dynasty “Cyrus the Shepherd”
Peak under Darius (r BCE)
Ruled Indus River to the Aegean Sea
Capital: Persepolis

7. Achaemenid Administration: The Satrapies
23 administrative divisions  satrapies
SATRAPIES: Local governments led by Persian officials (satraps), but staff principally local
System of spies, surprise audits
Minimized possibilities of local rebellion
Standardized currency for taxation purposes
Massive road building, courier services

8. Technologies QANAT: System of underground canals
Avoided excessive loss to evaporation

9. Technologies Extensive road-building Persian Royal Road
1,600 miles, some of it paved
Courier service

10. Decline of the Achaemenid Empire
Policy of toleration under Cyrus, Darius
Rebuilding of Temple in Jerusalem
Xerxes ( BCE) attempts to impose Persian stamp on satrapies
Increasing public discontent

11. Persian Wars (500-479 BCE) Rebellious Greeks in Ionia
Peninsular Greeks join in
Persians defeated at Marathon (490 BCE), retreated
Alexander the Great conquers the Achaemenid Empire ( BCE)

12. Seleucid Empire Alexander the Great dies suddenly
Generals divide empire, best part goes to Seleucus (r BCE)
Attacked by rebellion in India, invasion of Parthians
The Achaemenid and Seleucid empires, B.C.E.

13. The Parthian and Sasanid Empires, 247 B.C.E.-651 C.E.
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14. Parthian Empire Seminomadic Parthians drive Seleucus out of Iran
Federated governmental structure
Especially strong cavalry
Weakened by ongoing wars with Romans
Fell to internal rebellion

15. Sasanid Empire (224-651 CE) Claimed descent from Achaemenids
Continual conflicts with Rome, Byzantium in the west, Kush in the east (Africa)
Overwhelmed by Arab conquest in 651
Persian administration and culture absorbed into local Islamic culture

16. Persian Society Early steppe traditions
Warriors, priests, peasants
Family/clan kinship very important
Creation of bureaucrat class with Empire
Tax collectors
Record keepers
Translators

17. Slave Class Prisoners of war, conquered populations Debtors
Children, spouses also sold into slavery
Principally domestic servitude
Some agricultural labor, public works

18. Persian Economy Several areas exceptionally fertile
Long-distance trade benefits from Persian road-building
Goods from India especially valued

19. Zoroastrianism Early Aryan influences on Persian religious traditions
Zarathustra (late 7th- early 6th c. BCE)
Prophet of Ahura Mazda (god of good), against Angra Mainyu (god of evil)

20. Zoroastrianism
Dualistic religion  Battle between forces of good and evil
Priests of Zarathustra known as Magi

21. Zoroastrianism
Oral teachings until Sasanid period, composed Gathas  eventually make up foundation of Avesta (holy book)

22. Fortunes of Zoroastrianism
Under Alexander: Massacre of Magi, burning Zoroastrian temples
Weak Parthian support
Major revival under Sasanids, persecution of non-Zoroastrians
Discrimination under Islam

23. Other Religious Groups in the Persian Empire
Major Mesopotamian communities of Jews
Composition of the Talmud, c. 500 CE
“constitution of Judaism”
Buddhism, Christianity and Manichaeism also survived