1. Ch. 7 Empires of Persia The Achaemenid Empire
The Selucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires
Social and Economic Developments
Religions in Persian Society

2. 4 major Empires of Persia
Achaemenid, ( B.C.E.)
Seleucid ( B.C.E.)
Parthian ( B.C.E.)
Sasanid ( C.E.)
controlled much of the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and India for over one thousand years, from about 550 B.C.E. through 650 C.E.

3. The Achaemenid Empire
People: Medes & Persians migrated from central Asia to Persia (modern day Iran), who became peoples of Achaemenid Empire
Leaders: Cyrus the Shepard, Cambyses, Darius
Center of Empire: Persepolis
-full of advisors, ministers, diplomats, scirbes, accountants, translators, bureaucratic officers
Political: - balance between central dominance and local administration
-appointed governors to different regions for central control
-divided into satrapies – administrative and taxation districts
-taxes, laws, standardized coins

4. Darius the Great

6. The Royal Road
Archaemenid Empire built roads, some of them stone, and courier service

7. At the Height of the Empire…
Roads and administrative control allowed empire to extend
Laws and justice maintained stability
Qanat –underground canals- improved agriculture and led to more population
Iron Metallurgy – iron tools used in agriculture throughout empire

8. Decline & Fall of Empire
Cyrus & Darius promoted toleration of multicultural empire and various ethnic groups
Xerxes (Darius successor) imposed his own values and moved away from toleration
People of Mesopotamia and Eygpt resented Xerxes and rebelled.
Ionian Greeks (500 B.C.E.) rebelled and asserted independence
Known as the Persian Wars ( B.C.E)

9. Decline & Fall of Empire
150 years of battles and wars with Greek city-states
Battle of Marathon (490 B.C.E.) -Persian loss
Alexander the Great defeated Persians with 48,000 Macedonians
Battle of Gaugamela (331 B.C.E) – Alexander the great defeated Achaemenid forces and empire was finished

10. Alexander the Great

11. The Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid Empires (After Alexander the Greats’ death)
Alexander the Greats’ empire was divided into 3 realms
Seleucid –reigned using Archaemenid systems of administration & taxation, royal roads and postal service
Parthians –took over Iran, seminomadic, no centralized government, more agriculture, warriors
Sasanids – furthered system of administration, cultivated rice, sugar, fruits, eggplant in Iran. Fought against growing Roman Empire

12. Imperial Society & Economy
Public life and social structure became more complicated
Centralized imperial governments
Educated classes
Trade, art, craftsmen, and professionals
Increased gap between rich and poor
More slavery – enslaving conquered forces

13. Social Development in Classical Persia
Early Achaemenid Empire – Medes & Persians had social structure similar to Aryans in India,
Warriors, priests, peasants
Family and clan relationships very important
Various other ethnic groups
Imperial administration led to growing numbers of bureaucrats – administrators, tax collectors, record keepers – challenged warrior elite

14. Free Classes
People were free but did not live like clan leaders and bureaucrats
Free peoples in cities – artisans, craftsmen, merchants, low-ranking civil servants
Free peoples in countryside – peasants that owned their owned land, workers
Religious observances

15. Economic Foundations in Classical Persia
Agriculture based –support military, bureaucrats, residents
Trade from India to Egypt
Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, banks, taxes
Specialization of production in different regions
Trade promoted because of relative political stability, general prosperity, standardized coins, and good trade routes

16. Religions of Salvation
Cross-cultural influences led to development of Persian religion
Zoroastrianism (6th century B.C.E.)
Idea of supreme god (Ahura Mazda)
Gathas (Zarathustra’s works) -
Not strict monotheists (6 lesser deities)
Good vs. Evil
Purpose of life was not to get to some heaven
Influenced Islam, Christianity, Judaism