The Persian Empire was created by Cyrus the Great, who conquered a vast region from India to Anatolia. Under Darius I, the empire was divided into 20 provinces which allowed subject peoples to maintain their own laws, religion, and languages. This established a model of imperial rule based on tolerance of local customs. However, the Persians' failure to conquer Greece also marked the limits of their power.

1. Persian Empire

2. Indo-European Migrations
Hittites
Aryans
Persians

5. Critical Intro: (2-3 sentences)
Make an argument for the most
significant impact of the Persians.

6. Persian Empire

7. Persian Empire and Royal Road

8. • Cyrus creates Persian Empire
• Conquers from Indus Valley in the east to Anatolia in
West, and the Fertile Crescent

9. Cyrus the Great
•1st
great king of
Persian Empire
•Ruled subjects
with Tolerance
•Respected
religions of
others

10. Darius I
• Created imperial bureaucracy
•Divided empire into 20
provinces
•People could maintain own
religion, laws, language
•Established idea of nationalities
•Greatest failure = could not
conquer Greece

11. Persian Provinces

13. Darius fails to conquer Greece

14. Zoroastrianism
- Two spiritual armies fighting for possession of
souls = Good vs. Evil
- Good god = Ahura Mazda – Supreme god of
truth and light
- Evil god = Ahriman – God of evil and
darkness
- Your choices in life determines your fate
Zoroaster

16. Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire

18. Critical Intro:
Better governing style:
Iron Fist or
Tolerance
Defend your answer.

19. Critical Intro:
How does Zoroastrianism
compare to other religions
of the times?