Ancient Persia & Greece

The Persian Empire (Modern Iran)• Limited natural resources / rich in

mineral resources (G,S,C,T) • Cyrus the Great & Darius I =

Expanded Empire• Persian Style of Govt.

– Satraps (Royal Relation)– Autonomous Provinces– Province paid tribute / Limited

supply of G & S– King = Lawgiver / People =

Maintain Traditions• Zoroastrianism =

– Major Monotheistic Religion– Dualistic (Good v. Evil)– Influenced Judaism & Christianity

The Persian Empire (1000-500 BCE)• Achievements– Spread knowledge of iron

metallurgy– Long distance trade route

linked India, SW Asia, & Egypt

– Held together empire despite diverse peoples b/c of tolerance

– Relied on local leaders– Trade & War with Greece =

Artistic & Philosophical exchange

Ancient Greek City-States• Polis = City State & its rural

territory• Athens & Sparta =

– Maritime Power v. Agricultural/ Military Power

– Trireme & Hoplite– Reliance on Slave Labor– Athens shift from aristocracy to

democracy (Pericles)• Overpopulation leads to

Colonization & Trade, New Ideas, Spread of Greek Identity/Philosophy

• Major Conflicts– Persian Wars (490-437 BCE)– Peloponnesian Wars (431-404)

Culture of Classical Greece• Common Culture

– Olympic Games (776 BCE)– Religious Beliefs / Ceremonies– Slaves / Gender Inequality

• Greek Religion = Sky gods who represented forces of nature w/human characteristics

• Philosophy & Thought– Aristotle = Oral Culture– Plato = Written Culture– Herodotus = Research /

Recording

Alexander & the Hellenistic Age• Weakened City States =

Macedonian Conquest– Philip of Macedonia– Alexander the Great

• Alexander’s Empire built upon remnants of the conquered Persian Empire

• Hellenistic Age (323-30 BCE)– Blending of Greek & Persian

Culture (intermarriage)– Stability = Long Distance Trade– Stoicism = Use of reason to

lead virtuous lives

The Acropolis at Athens

Battle of Issus