Chapter 7

The Empires of Persia

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Persian Empires Contemporary Iran Four major dynasties

Achaemenids (558-330 B.C.E.)

Seleucids (323-83 B.C.E.) Parthians (247 B.C.E.-

224 C.E.) Sasanids (224-651 C.E.)

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Achaemenid Empire (558-330 B.C.E.) Migration of Medes and Persians

from central Asia, before 1000 B.C.E.- Indo-Europeans

Capitalized on weakening

Assyrian and Babylonian empires Cyrus (r. 558-530 B.C.E.)

founder of dynasty- “Cyrus the Shepherd”

Peak under Darius (r. 521-486 B.C.E.) Ruled Indus to the Aegean- Capital

Persepolis

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Cyrus- (r. 558-530 B.C.E.)Cyrus the Achaemenid (the

Shepherd) 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’ tomb still exists

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Darius- (r. 521-486 B.C.E.)

Aka Darius the Great-- Brought the empire to its

largest extent; population thirty-five million

Diverse empire, seventy ethnic groups

Persepolis- Darius’ beautiful new capital, built

in 520 BCE

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Achaemenid Administration: The Satrapies Twenty-three administrative

divisions- Satraps Persian, but staff principally local.

System of spies & surprise audits Minimized possibilities

of local rebellion Standardized currency

for taxation purposes Massive road building,

courier services

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Technologies Qanat: System of underground

canals Avoided excessive loss to

evaporation Extensive road-building

Persian Royal Road 1600 miles, some of it paved-

allowed the king to stay in touch and send troops where needed-

Also encouraged trade and travel, Postal stations also aided

communication, Courier service

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The Achaemenid Empire Replaced irregular tribute

payments with formal taxes—much more reliable! Allowed for efficient government

Standardization of coins and laws—encouraged trade and justice

Taxes, Coins, and Laws

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Decline of the Achaemenid Empire Policy of toleration under

Cyrus, Darius Rebuilding of temple in

Jerusalem Xerxes (486-465 B.C.E.)

harshly represses rebellions in Mesopotamia and Egypt

Increasing public discontent

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Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.) Greeks living in Ionia on the

Anatolia coast of the Aegean Sea came under Persian control.

With encouragement from Greeks back in Greece, the Ionian Greeks revolted.

The Persians sent a huge army to defeat the Greeks.

In an upset victory, the Persians were defeated at Marathon (490 B.C.E.), retreated back to Persia.

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Alexander the Great :Decline & Fall of the Achaemenid Empire

One of the ancient world’s great conquerors

Invaded and conquered Persia in 331 BCE

Destroyed Persepolis

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Seleucid Empire Alexander died young, and his empire was divided

among three of his generals- ;best part goes to Seleucus (r. 305-281 B.C.E.)- Persia

The Seleucids kept the Achaemenid

system of administration, but eventually

India and northern Iran rebelled; Persians

resented foreign rule.

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The Achaemenid and Seleucid Empires, 558-330 B.C.E. and 323-83 B.C.E.

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Parthian Empire Seminomadic Parthians drive

Seleucus out of Iran.

The Parthians, based in northern Iran, pushed out the Seleucids and extended to Mesopotamia

Parthian government followed the example of Achaemenid administration

Especially strong cavalry, but

weakened by ongoing wars with Romans; fell to internal rebellion

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Sasanid Empire (224-651 C.E.) Claimed descent from

Achaemenids ; Toppled the Parthians in 224 CE.

Continual conflicts with Rome, Byzantium in the west, Kush in the east

Overwhelmed by Arab conquest in 651 C.E.

Persian administration and culture absorbed into local Islamic culture

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The Parthian and Sasanid Empires, 247 B.C.E.-651 C.E.

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Persian Society Early steppe traditions

Warriors, priests, peasants Family/clan kinship very important

Creation of bureaucrat class with empire Tax collectors Record keepers Translators

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Persian Social Hierarchy

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Persian Society : Free Classes The bulk of Persian

society:

Artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil servants

In the countryside: peasants, some of whom were building underground canals (qanat)

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Slave Class Prisoners of war,

conquered populations Debtors Children, spouses also

sold into slavery Principally domestic

servitude Some agricultural labor,

public works

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Persian Economy- Agriculture and Trade Several areas exceptionally

fertile Long-distance trade benefits

from Persian road-building Goods from India especially

valued; Long distance—by both land & sea

Networks included Africa, India, the Mediterranean, and the Near East

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Religions of Salvation in Classical Persian Society: Zoroastrianism

Early Aryan influences on Persian religious traditions

Zarathustra (late seventh to early sixth century B.C.E.) ; Prophet of Ahura Mazda, against Angra Mainyu ; Priests of Zarathustra known as magi

Oral teachings until Sasanid period composed Gathas

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Zoroastrian Teachings Ahura Mazda as a supreme deity, with six

lesser deities Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda

(good) and Angra Mainyu (evil) Heavenly paradise and hellish realm as reward

and punishment The material world as a blessing Moral formula: good words, good thoughts,

good deeds

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Popularity of Zoroastrianism

Developed quite a following under the Achaemenids: attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites

Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God Most popular in Iran; followings also in

Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Egypt

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Popularity of Zoroastrianism

The Sasanids sought to revive Zoroastrianism and provided official support

The magi wrote down the Gathas in texts called the Avestas

Zoroastrianism flourished until the advent of Islam

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The Bad Fortunes of Zoroastrianism Under Alexander: massacre of magi, burning

Zoroastrian temples Weak Parthian support Major revival under Sasanids, persecution of

non-Zoroastrians Discrimination under Islam

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Other Religious Groups in the Persian Empire

Major Mesopotamian communities of Jews Composition of the Talmud, ca. 500 C.E.

“Constitution of Judaism” Buddhism, Christianity and Manichaeism also

survived and won converts in Persia.

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Influence of Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism influenced Judaism,

Christianity, and later, Islam

Belief in one God, an ethical life,

heaven and hell

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