More Related Content Similar to Ch 7 persia keynote Similar to Ch 7 persia keynote (20) Ch 7 persia keynote1. The Classical Empires of
Persia
! Four major dynasties
Achaemenids (558-330 BCE)
Seleucids (323-283 BCE)
Parthians (247 BCE-224 CE)
Sasanids (224-651 CE)
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2. The Classical Empires of
Persia
! Four major dynasties
Achaemenids (558-330 BCE)
Seleucids (323-283 BCE)
Parthians (247 BCE-224 CE)
Sasanids (224-651 CE)
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4. Achaemenid Empire (558-330 BCE)
Ushers in a new era in world history - EMPIRE on a new
scale (Mediterranean Sea to India!)
Migration of Medes and Persians from central Asia,
before 1000 BCE into modern-day Iran
Indo-Europeans
Capitalized on weakening Mesopotamian civs - Assyrian
and Babylonian empires
Cyrus the Great (r. 558-530 BCE) founder of dynasty
A tolerant ruler he allowed different cultures within his
empire to keep their own
institutions.
The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.”
The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.”
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7. Achaemenid Administration: The
Satrapies
Had to rule a VAST empire with over 70
ethnicities
23 Administrative divisions
Satraps Persian, but staff principally local
System of spies, surprise audits
Minimized possibilities of local rebellion
Standardized currency for taxation purposes
Also standardized tribute system (taxation)
Massive road building, courier services
Built Persepolis 5
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9. Technologies
Iron metallurgy
Qanat: System of underground canals
Avoided excessive loss to evaporation
Extensive road-building
Persian Royal Road
2,575 km or 1,600 miles, some of it paved!
Also new highways or improved existing roads into Egypt,
India, etc... (13,000 km!)
Courier service (111 postal stations at 40-50 km apart)
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11. Decline of the Achaemenid Empire
Policy of toleration under Cyrus, Darius
Xerxes (486-465 BCE) attempts to impose
Persian stamp on satrapies; intolerance
Increasing public discontent
Had hardest time with ethnic GREEKS in
Anatolia (esp. Ionia - along coast) and their
cousins across the sea
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12. Persian Wars (500-479 BCE)
Rebellious Greeks in Ionia
Peninsular Greeks join in
Long, costly campaign to conquer the Greeks
Persians defeated at Marathon (490 BCE),
retreated
For next 150 years, kept fighting
Alexander the Great conquers the Achaemenid
Empire (334-331 BCE)
continues the administrative legacy of the Achaemenids
dies in 323 BCE and empire is divided...
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13. Seleucid Empire
Generals divide empire, best part goes to Seleucus
(r. 305-281 BCE)
Retained Achaemenid administrative and other
structures
Faced opposition from native Persians and
others...
Attacked by rebellion in India, invasion of
Parthians
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14. The Achaemenid and Selucid Empires, 558-83 BCE
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15. Parthian Empire
Seminomadic Parthians drive Seleucus out of Iran
Federated governmental structure
Especially strong cavalry (bigger horses!)
Weakened by ongoing wars with Romans
Fell to internal rebellion
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16. Sasanid Empire (224-651 CE)
Claimed descent from Achaemenids
Continual conflicts with Rome, Byzantium in the
west, Kush in the east
Overwhelmed by Arab conquest in 651
Persian administration and culture absorbed into
local Islamic culture
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17. The Parthian and Sasanid Empires, 247 BCE-651
CE
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18. Persian Society
Early steppe traditions
Warriors, priests, peasants (early social structure)
semi-nomadic
Family/clan kinship very important
Creation of bureaucrat class with empire
Tax collectors
Record keepers
translators (facilitated communication among the many
peoples within empire)
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19. Slave Class
Prisoners of war, conquered populations
Debtors
Children, spouses also sold into slavery
Principally domestic servitude
Some agricultural labor, public works (qanats)
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20. Persian Economy
Several areas exceptionally fertile
old river valley civ areas
Long-distance trade benefits from Persian road-
building and standardized coins
Goods from India especially valued
Most Persians were free classes (artisans,
merchants, textile production, peasants working
as laborers
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21. Zoroastrianism (switch to charts)
Early Aryan influences on Persian religious
traditions (natural elements/geographic features)
Will influence the beliefs and values of Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam
Zarathustra (late 7th-early 6th c. BCE)
a prophet for the “wise lord”
Priests of Zarathustra known as Magi
doctrine of good v. evil
humans would undergo judgement based on works in this life
heaven and hell idea
Humans could and should enjoy life (in moderation)
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23. Dualistic Battle of
Good vs. Evil
Ahura Mazda Ahriman
“Holy “Destructive
Spirit” (who will Spirit”
ultimately defeat
evil)
24. Zend-Avesta
(The “Book of Law”)
The “Sacred Fire” the force
to fight evil.
26. Zoroastrianism in the empire...
Under Alexander: Massacre of Magi, burning
Zoroastrian temples
Weak Parthian support
Major revival under Sasanids, persecution of non-
Zoroastrians
Discrimination under Islam
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27. Other Religious Groups in the Persian
Empire
Because of the tolerance of most leaders...
Jewish communities
Christianity and Buddhism also find converts
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28. The Fall...
I. Xerxes’ policies
II. Persian Wars (500-479 BCE)
III. Alexander of Macedon (Great)
IV. Seleucids, Parthians, Sasanids
V. Incorported into the Islamic empire
(651 CE)
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