Darius I was a crucial king of the Persian Empire who reigned from 522 BCE to 486 BCE. He consolidated his rule by putting down rebellions across the empire after gaining power. Darius then expanded the empire through military campaigns, establishing 20 provinces and incorporating new lands like Egypt and the Indus Valley. He also reformed the government system and introduced a new universal currency. Darius was succeeded by his son Xerxes I after his death in 486 BCE.

1. Darius I
and the
Persian Empire
By: Aaron Bernhardt

2. But First!
What was the Persian Empire?

3. Persian Empire Overview
 The Persian Empire was a series of Imperial dynasties based in Persia
-Modern day Iran
 Founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BCE
-After conquering Media, Lydia, and Babylonia
 The Empire lasted from 550 BCE until 330 BCE
-Conquered by Alexander the Great
 Considered one of the Ancient worlds greatest empires
 Survived through the power of the Persian “Great” trilogy
*Pictured: Symbol of Cyrus the
Great, founder of the Persian
Empire*

4. Persian King Dynastic Chart

5. The Great Persian Trilogy
Cyrus II the Great Darius I the Great Xerxes I the Great
Ruled 550 BC-530 BC Ruled 522 BC-486 BC Ruled 486 BC-465 BC

6. Darius I

7. Thesis
Why Darius I is a crucial figure of the
Persian trilogy of Great Persian Kings,
and his impact on the world of Persia.
*Pictured: Ceramic Tiling of Persian military men under Darius I*
*Pictured: Carving of Persian Nobles*

8. What did Darius look like?
Being known as the
“Greatest” of the Persian
Trilogy comes with its
perks. Darius I has many
carvings/sculptures
picturing him, as both the
King of Persia, King of
Babylon, and Pharaoh of
Egypt.
*Pictured: Illustrations of Darius I the Great, King of Persia*

9. His Early Life/Adolescence
 Born around 550 BCE.
 The oldest of five sons, to his father Hystapses and mother Rhodugune.
 His father was the Satrap of Bactria, meaning he was the governor of the
Bactria province in Persia. (Around 522 BCE).
 During Early Adulthood/Adolescence Darius served as a spearman in Cambyses
II army, where he took part in the Egyptian campaign.
 Darius’s father served in Cyrus the Great’s army, and for his service became a
noble of Cyrus’s court.
*Pictured: A carving of
Darius the Great*

10. Map of the Persian Empire Before
Darius I’s Accession

11. Darius’s Accession
 Two different accounts of Darius’s Accession.
-Darius’s account
-Darius’s predecessor (Cambyses II) killed his own brother Bardiya
-Greek historians version
-Their version stated that Darius himself killed Bardiya during a revolt.
 Due to the people rebelling against Cambyses II’s rule, Darius’s predecessor Gaumata (Bardiya) was placed on
the throne.
 In 522 BCE, Darius led a revolt against Gaumata with many others and succeeded in killing Gaumata, in the
fortress of Sikayauvati.
 The following day, after Gaumata’s death, Darius was named King of the Persians.

12. The Struggles of the Early Reign
 Coronation at Pasargadae. (Capital of Persia under Cyrus the Great)
-After preceded to move the capital to Ecbatana,while Persepolis
was under construction
 His beginnings weren’t smooth however, due to Bardiya’s
influence/support, many riots broke out across the empire.
-(Mainly in Babylonia and Elam)
 Elam had riots known as the Elamite revolts, Darius squashed the
resistance by executing their leader Aschina in Susa.
-(Only 3 month revolt)
 Babylonia riots began in Bactria, Darius’s homeland, and sparked many
revolts across the Achaemenid Empire.
-Including Persis, Egypt, Media, Assyria, Parthia, and again in
Elam/Babylonia.*Pictured: Ruins of Pasargadae*

13. Early Reign Cont.
 Most of Achaemenid Empire in turmoil.
-(Around 523 BCE)
 Darius had little support from common population, but major support
from the army and nobles.
-With their help he managed to quell at revolts against his reign.
 Most significant event taken place during his early reign was the killing of
intaphernes. One of Darius’s previous noble allies.
-Intaphernes kidnapped Darius’s wife and assaulted his guards
-In retaliation, and fearing that the nobles would turn on him,
Darius had him and his whole family tree killed.
*Pictured: The noble man
Intaphernes*

14. Reign Conquests and Expansion
 After securing Empire, and squashing
rebellions he focused on Egypt.
-Defeated the current Pharaoh and
reconquered land previously
controlled by Cambyses II
(Pictured on next slide)
 Incorporated most of Egypt into
Achaemenid Empire
 Through military campaigns Darius reigned
an area from:
-Balkans (Thrace-Macedonia, Bulgaria-
Paeonia) in the west
-To the Indus Valley in the east.*Pictured: Darius I,
depicted as a Egyptian Pharaoh*
*Pictured: A map of the Persian Empire
before the Indus Valley Campaign*

15. Reign
Conquests
Cont.
 Indus Valley Campaign
-Took place in 516 BCE
-Campaign to Central Asia, Aria, and Bactria.
-Modern day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India
-Gained control of Indus Valley from Gandhara to modern day Karachi.

16. Reign
Conquests
Cont.
 Persia invasion of Greece
-Considered the biggest
event of his reign
 Begin with the invasion of
Thrace
-Conquering most of the
Northern Aegean Sea
 Greeks in Asia Minor and Greek
Islands submitted to rule by 510
BCE
*Map shows the Persian War*

17. Laws/Government
 Laws and Taxes
-Reformed the Taxation system placed by Cyrus and Cambyses
-Created 20 provinces (Satrapies) which had a governor (Satrap),
each satrapies had tributes required to pay to the government
-Tributes: Gold, Silver, or other precious minerals
-Satraps were Persian nobles, usually from the six noble houses that support Darius
-Each Satrap was handpicked by Darius himself
-Each province was sub-divided into smaller areas, each having a governor.
-Chosen by the Ruling Satrap or royal court
-Each Satrap had a secretary that reported directly to Darius, to make sure Satraps didn’t
gain much power (Considered Darius’s eyes and ears)

18. Economics and Trade
 Introduced the new “Universal Currency” the Daric
 Used a coinage system to regulate trade/commerce throughout the
Persian Empire
 Two types of Daric
-Gold and Silver
-Gold could only be produced by the King
-Silver could be produced by Generals and Satraps
 Daric created huge boost to international trade
-Trade goods such as Textiles, carpets, tools, and metals began
traversing throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa
 To help trade Darius built the Royal Road, a postal system,
and commercial-based shipping*Pictured: A Golden Daric*

19. Religion and Tolerance
 Before Darius, there was no empirical religion
 Darius made the Empire’s main religion Zoroastrianism
-Ahura Mazda (Creater/God of Zoroastrainism religion)
 Darius believed Ahura appointed him to rule the empire
 Believed he had divine right to conquer enemy/rebelling lands
due to his faith
 Followed same Achaemenid tolerance as Cyrus
-Allowing conquered lands to worship their own religions.
-As long as they paid taxes and didn’t rebel
 Built temples for many religions, including Egyptian temples,
Greek Cults, and Elamite priests*Pictured: Faravahar, a Zoroastrian symbol*

20. Construction/Building
 During the Greek Campaign
-Linked the Red Sea to the Nile by building a canal
-Built a canal to connect the Red Sea to the Mediterranean
Sea
*Began many projects in Susa, Egypt, and Persepolis (Capital of Persian Empire)*
 Susa
-Built a new palace complex
 Persepolis
-Finished the construction projects left by Cyrus the Great’s
rule
-Built a palace in Pasargadae in honor of Cyrus
*Pictured: The Ruins of Persepolis*

21. Construction/Building Cont.
 Egypt
-Built many temples and restored ones that had been destroyed
-Although Zoroastrian, he helped build temples dedicated to
Egyptian Gods
-Created several roads and routes in Egypt to allow for easier trade
and travel
 Had all moments and buildings constructed written in languages of the Persians
 Employed massive amount of workers/artisans of every nationality
-Enhanced the Empire’s economy, and improved cultural relations
-All workers were paid based on their skill, and amount of work
done
*Pictured: An Egyptian shrine, that
depicts Darius the Great*

22. Language/Writing
 During the Reign of Cyrus and Darius the official language was
Elamite
-Mainly used by the Government and Commerce
 After conquering Mesopotamia Aramaic language was adopted
-Allowing for communication between the Persians and
the rest of the Empire
-Allowed for the empire to remain stable, as there was
no language barrier
 Aramaic became the official Persian Empire Language
 While Cuneiform became the official written Language
 Also spoke Greek, when having dealings with trade and
managing Greek land *Pictured: Tablet of Cuneiform, created
from Aramaic Language*

23. Map of Persian Empire After
Darius I’s Reign

24. Death
 Darius died in 486 BCE
-His body was embalmed and entombed
 He was succeeded by his son Xerxes I
-The son of Darius and his wife Atossa
 Xerxes continued the Great Persian Trilogy
-Was the last of the Persian Greats, before Empire began
declining
-Ruled from 485 BCE – 465 BCE
*Pictured: The Tomb of Darius the Great*

25. Online/Hard Text Sources
 Abott, Jacob. "History of Darius the Great." Google Books. Harvard College Library,
n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2016
 Boardman, John. "The Cambridge Ancient History." Google Books. Ed. N.G.L.
Hammond, D.M. Lewis, and M. Ostwald. Cambridge University Press, n.d.
Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
 Duchesne-Guillemin, Jacques. "Zoroastrianism." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jan. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
 Fife, Steven. "Darius I." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History
Encyclopedia, 02 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
 Grote, George. "Persians, Darius The Great." Persians, Darius The Great. History-
world.org, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

26. Online/Hard Text Sources Cont.
 Wikipedia. "Ahura Mazda." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11
Dec. 2016.
 Wikipedia. "Achaemenid Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web.
11 Dec. 2016.
 Wikipedia. "Aramaic Alphabet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11
Dec. 2016.
 Wikipedia. "Darius I." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.
Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

27. Visual Sources
 Google Images
-Slide 3 (Cyrus’s Symbol)
-Slide 7 (Persian Noble Carving)
-Slide 9 (Darius I Carving)
-Slide 10 (Map of Cyrus’s Empire)
-Slide 12 (Ruins of Pasargadae)
-Slide 15 (Map of Indus Valley Campaign)
-Slide 16 (Map of Persian War)
-Slide 20 (Ruins of Persepolis)
-Slide 21 (Egyptian Shrine)
-Slide 22 (Cuneiform Tablet)
 Bing Images
-Slide 4 (Dynastic Chart)
-Slide 5 (All Portraits)
-Slide 7 (Persian Ceramic Tiling)
-Slide 8 (Carving and Illustration)
-Slide 13 (Carving of Intaphernes)
-Slide 14 (Carving and Map)
-Slide 18 (Image of Daric)
-Slide 19 (Image of Faravahar)
-Slide 23 (Map after Reign)
-Slide 24 (Tomb of Darius I)
*Labeled by Slide which they appear*