Persian Empire Research Paper
The rise and fall of the Persian Empires
The Achaemenid Empire
Medes and Persians migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000 B.C.E.
Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with Aryans
Challenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empires
Cyrus the Achaemenid (the Shepherd) (reigned 558-530 B.C.E.)
Became king of Persian tribes in 558 B.C.E.
All of Iran under his control by 548 B.C.E.
Established a vast empire from India to borders of Egypt
Cyrus's son, Cambyses (reigned 530-522 B.C.E.), conquered Egypt in 525
Darius (reigned 521-486 B.C.E.); largest extent of empire; population thirty-five million
Diverse empire, seventy ethnic groups
New capital at Persepolis, 520 B.C.E.
Achaemenid administration
Twenty-three satrapies (Persian …show more content…
Merchants brought in various crops from India and China
Shapur I (239-272 C.E.); buffer states with Romans; standoff with Kushan
In 651 C.E., empire incorporated into Islamic empire
Imperial society and economy
Social development in classical Persia
Nomadic society; importance of family and clan relationships
Imperial bureaucrats
Imperial administration called for educated bureaucrats
Shared power and influence with warriors and clan leaders
Free classes were bulk of Persian society
In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil servants
In the countryside: peasants, some of whom were building underground canals (qanat)
Large class of slaves who were prisoners of war and debtors
Economic foundations of classical Persia
Agriculture was the economic foundation
Trade from India to Egypt
Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, banks
Specialization of production in different regions
Religions of salvation in classical Persian society
Zarathustra and his faith
Zoroastrianism
Emerged from the teachings of Zarathustra
Visions; supreme god (Ahura Mazda) made Zarathustra prophet
The Gathas, Zarathustra's hymns in honor of
The Achaemenid Empire
Medes and Persians migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000 B.C.E.
Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with Aryans
Challenged the Assyrian and Babylonian empires
Cyrus the Achaemenid (the Shepherd) (reigned 558-530 B.C.E.)
Became king of Persian tribes in 558 B.C.E.
All of Iran under his control by 548 B.C.E.
Established a vast empire from India to borders of Egypt
Cyrus's son, Cambyses (reigned 530-522 B.C.E.), conquered Egypt in 525
Darius (reigned 521-486 B.C.E.); largest extent of empire; population thirty-five million
Diverse empire, seventy ethnic groups
New capital at Persepolis, 520 B.C.E.
Achaemenid administration
Twenty-three satrapies (Persian …show more content…
Merchants brought in various crops from India and China
Shapur I (239-272 C.E.); buffer states with Romans; standoff with Kushan
In 651 C.E., empire incorporated into Islamic empire
Imperial society and economy
Social development in classical Persia
Nomadic society; importance of family and clan relationships
Imperial bureaucrats
Imperial administration called for educated bureaucrats
Shared power and influence with warriors and clan leaders
Free classes were bulk of Persian society
In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil servants
In the countryside: peasants, some of whom were building underground canals (qanat)
Large class of slaves who were prisoners of war and debtors
Economic foundations of classical Persia
Agriculture was the economic foundation
Trade from India to Egypt
Standardized coins, good trade routes, markets, banks
Specialization of production in different regions
Religions of salvation in classical Persian society
Zarathustra and his faith
Zoroastrianism
Emerged from the teachings of Zarathustra
Visions; supreme god (Ahura Mazda) made Zarathustra prophet
The Gathas, Zarathustra's hymns in honor of