The Sassanian Dynasty ruled Persia from 224-651 AD. It was founded by Ardashir I who overthrew the Parthian Empire and established the Sassanian capital at Ardashir-Khwarrah. The Sassanians expanded the empire to the Indus River Valley and revived Persian culture, making Zoroastrianism the official religion. They had numerous kings over their nearly 500 year reign until being conquered by the Arab Muslims.

1. Sassanian Dynasty
(224 AD-651AD)

2. Brief History of the Sassanian
Empire
• In 224 AD, the SASSANIAN
DYNASTY, under the leadership of
ARDASHIR I, overthrew the Parthian
Empire.
• It spread to the INDUS RIVER and to the
north of the TIGRIS-EUPHRATES

3. SASSANID EMPIRE COVERAGE

4. Ardashir I
• was born in the late 2nd
century in Istakhr what is
present-day Fars in Iran
• was the founder of the
Sassanid Empire
• "King of Kings of Sassanid
Empire " (Shahenshah) with
the overthrow of the
Parthian Empire

5. Ardashir I
• once Ardashir was
appointed Shahenshah,
he moved his capital
further to the south of
Persis and founded
Ardashir-Khwarrah
• became the center of
Ardashir's efforts to gain
more power

6. The investiture of Ardashir I by
Ahuramazda

7. List of Kings of the Sassanid
Empire:
• Shapur I
was the son of
Ardashir I
• Bahram I
• Bahram II
• Bahram III

8. Ghal'eh Dokhtar (or "The Maiden's Castle") in present-
day Fars, Iran, built by Ardashir in 209, before he was
finally able to defeat the Parthian empire.

9. List of Kings of the Sassanid
Empire:
• Narseh
“Great King of
Armenia”
“Sakan King”

10. List of Kings of the Sassanid
Empire:
• Hormoz II
• Shapur II
• Ardashir II
• Shapur III
• Bahram IV

11. List of Kings of the Sassanid
Empire:
• Yazdgerd I
• Bahram V
• Yazdgerd II
• Hormoz III
• Peroz

12. List of Kings of the Sassanid
Empire:
• Balash
• Kaveh I (first reign)
• Zamasp
• Kaveh I (second reign)
• Khosro I, Anoushirvan

13. List of Kings of the Sassanid
Empire:
• Hormoz IV
• Bahram VI, Chobin
• Khosro II, Parviz
• Kaveh II
• Ardashir III

14. List of Kings of the Sassanid
Empire:
• Shahrvaraz
• Porandokht
• Hormoz V
• Yazdgerd III

15. Sassanian Dynasty
• Revived the Persian
civilization promoted
by Archaemenids
• began to
acknowledge the
accomplishments of
the Persians

16. Sassanian Dynasty
• made
Zoroastrianism the
official religion
Religion and philosophy based on
the teachings of prophet Zoroaster
• the Zend Avesta or
Holy Book was
compiled

17. Sassanian Dynasty
• during this
time, Christianity
was made the
official religion of
the Romans
The traditional nemesis of the
Parthians and Sassanians