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The Empires of Persia 600BCE – 600CE
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Early History & Geography
Persians – Indo European Migrants Iranian Plateau Achaemenid clan Cyrus large areas of West Asia under his control within a 20 year period son, Cambyses brought Egypt under Persian control in 525BCE Later Darius extended empire east and west – in total nearly 2,000 miles east to west and 1000 miles north to south – with a total of 35 million people!
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Achaemenid Rule Toleration of Numerous ethnic groups and languages
Bureacuracy at Persepolis 23 Administrative and taxation districts called satrapies, with a satrap for each Checks to satraps power – military officers, tax collectors & imperial spies Infrastructure Persian Royal Road 1,600 miles long Courier Service, 11 postal stations Standardized Coinage of Money
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Religion in Practice Darius claimed divine sanction, yet tolerant of other religions Zoroastrianism’s impact on other faiths No missionary component Missionary impact of other faiths: Buddhism Christianity Manichaeism (blend of Zoroastrianism, Christianity & Buddhism)
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Religion: Zoroastrianism
Founder: Zarathustra Holy Book: Avesta Priestly class: Magi Principle deity: Ahura Mazda – (six lesser gods) Doctrine: Final judgment Good vs evil (heaven & hell) Enjoy pleasures of this life
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Economic Foundations Trade Agriculture Foundation of economy
Barley, wheat Qanat: underground canals surpluses Trade Vast commercial zone Long distance Success?: roads, coins, political stability Diffusion during Hellenistic Age Cities - banks
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Social Classes Slaves Free Classes Imperial Bureaucrats Artisans
Low ranking civil servants Merchants Priests Landed & landless rural peasants Imperial Bureaucrats Educated Translators Administrators Record keepers Slaves Debtors Captives of war Owned by individual, state or temple Restrictions: movement, marriage
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Decline of Achaemenid Rule
Xerxes (486BCE – 465BCE) retreated from previous policy of toleration of various ethnic and religious identities Rebellions - Persian Wars (500BCE – 479BCE) 150 yrs. Sporadic rebellions, lack of growth
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End of Achaemenid Rule Alexander the Great invades (334 BCE)
Outnumbered by Persians More sophisticated military tactics Heavier arms
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Later “Persian” Empires
The Seleucid – former commander of Alexander the Great’s Army. Viewed as foreigners The Parthian – originated in Eastern Iran – restorers of Persian rule The Sassanid – claimed direct decent from Achaemenid – conquered by Arabs
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What is the Persian Legacy?
MESOPOTAMIA: Applied military and administrative techniques on a much larger scale MASSIVE IMPERIAL STATE: First to build and maintain (Achaemenid 558BCE – 330 BCE) RELIGIOUS BELIEFS: shaped moral and religious thought that influence later development of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
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Lost City of Persepolis
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