1. Early Complex Societies Evolve into Classical Societies
“Complex societies integrated the lives of peoples over large regions. These early complex societies launched human history on a trajectory that it continues to follow today. States, social classes, technological innovation, specialization of labor, trade, and sophisticated cultural traditions rank among the most important legacies of these societies.”

2. Formation of Classical Societies
Approximately 1000 BCE early societies
Achieved high degrees of internal organization
Extended their authority over extremely large regions
Elaborated influential cultural traditions

3. Problems of Classical Societies
Difficult to oversee vast territories without advanced technologies of transportation and communication.
Military challenges arose from within classical societies themselves in the form of rebellion, civil war, or conflict.
External threats came from nomadic and migratory people who sought to share in the wealth.
Maintenance of equitable distribution of land and wealth

4. Benefits of Classical Societies
Increased trade encouraged economic integration within the societies.
Establishment of regular commerce between peoples of different societies and cultural regions.
Generated sophisticated cultural and religious traditions.

5. The Empires of Persia
Classical Persian society began to take shape during the sixth century B.C.E. when rulers of the province of Persia in southwestern Iran embarked on a series of conquests that resulted in the formation of an enormous empire.

6. How it all Began
1000 BCE the Medes and the Persians migrated from central Asia to Perisa.
They spoke Indo European languages and they were part of the larger Indo-European migration.
They shared many traits with the Aryans who migrated into India.
They were pastoralists.
The Medes and Persians were people of considerable power.
The were skilled equestrians.
When the Assyrians and Babylonan empires weakened in the 6th century BCE, the Medes and Persians embarked on a successful imperial venture.

7. Carving of Persian Soldiers

8. Classical Society Emerges
Social: Imperial administration required educated bureaucrats. Bulk of Persian society was free but included merchants, artisans, craftsmen. Slavery became more prominent.
Economic: Agriculture was the foundation of Persian economy; long distance trade grew rapidly and linked lands from India to Egypt. Development of roads
Religion: Zoroastrianism emerged from the teachings of Zarathustra as a result of moral and religious thinkers adaptation to a more complex, cosmopolitan world. (“good words, good thoughts, good deeds”)

9. Impact of Zoroastrianism
Influenced religions of salvation.
Omnipotent deity was responsible for all creations.
The idea that a purely evil being worked against the creator god.
The conviction that the forces of good will ultimately prevail over the power of evil after a climatic struggle.
The doctrine that individuals will undergo judgment after which the morally upright will experience rewards in paradise while evildoers will suffer punishments in hell.

10. Ahuramazda: The 'wise lord', the supreme god of the ancient Persians, whose cult was propagated by the legendary prophet Zarathustra.