Greece Greece and and IranIran

1000 1000

– – 30 B.C.E30 B.C.E

State-building, Expansion and State-building, Expansion and ConflictConflict

MedesMedes AssyriansAssyrians

Cyrus 550 BCECyrus 550 BCE Social Class distinctionsSocial Class distinctions

Cambyses 530 BCECambyses 530 BCE Further expansionFurther expansion

Warriors

Priests

Peasants

Which of the following should we Which of the following should we consider as a more important Persian consider as a more important Persian step in Empire Building?step in Empire Building? ExpansionExpansion AdministrationAdministration

Darius I - 522 BCEDarius I - 522 BCE

Satrapy SystemSatrapy System Twenty totalTwenty total

Directly connected to royal familyDirectly connected to royal family DecentralizedDecentralized Collect and send tributeCollect and send tribute

SuccessesSuccesses Royal roadsRoyal roads Postal servicePostal service Codifying of lawsCodifying of laws Incorporation of local laws into justice Incorporation of local laws into justice

systemsystem Royal judgesRoyal judges Relatively peacefulRelatively peaceful Government supplied food for workersGovernment supplied food for workers Building of Persepolis as a cultural centreBuilding of Persepolis as a cultural centre Susa (Elam) established as Admin. centreSusa (Elam) established as Admin. centre

IssuesIssues Royal tribute hoardingRoyal tribute hoarding Leads to a economic collapse across Leads to a economic collapse across

much of Empire by 4much of Empire by 4thth BCE BCE Medians pushed out of power Medians pushed out of power

positionspositions King as aloof; people as “my slaves”King as aloof; people as “my slaves” Strong connection of practices to Strong connection of practices to

MesopotamiaMesopotamia High cost of King’s entourageHigh cost of King’s entourage Huge tracks of land owned by kingHuge tracks of land owned by king

Based on the successes and Based on the successes and issues of Darius’ rule and the issues of Darius’ rule and the negative attitude of the negative attitude of the Greeks towards the Persians, Greeks towards the Persians, why don’t we see more why don’t we see more revolts taking place across revolts taking place across the Empire?the Empire?

PersepolisPersepolis

Development and Interaction Development and Interaction of Culturesof Cultures

ReligionReligion ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism Mandate from HeavenMandate from Heaven

PhilosophiesPhilosophies Water, fire, earthWater, fire, earth PolytheismPolytheism

Persian culture under Darius I Persian culture under Darius I borrows heavily from conquered borrows heavily from conquered peoples. To what extent is this true peoples. To what extent is this true in regard to religion?in regard to religion?

It is said that Zorastriaism had a It is said that Zorastriaism had a

profound influence on Judaism and profound influence on Judaism and Christianity. Explain this connection.Christianity. Explain this connection.

GreeksGreeks Resource poor – Resource poor –

needed tradeneeded trade Ecological zone – Ecological zone –

migrationmigration Isolated polisIsolated polis Phoenicians (800 Phoenicians (800

BCE) = new ideas BCE) = new ideas (alphabet)(alphabet)

Rising population – Rising population – urban centersurban centers

StructuresStructures

Acropolis/agoraAcropolis/agora Hoplites – farmersHoplites – farmers ColonistsColonists CoinsCoins

TyrantTyrant

Oligarchy DemocracyOligarchy Democracy

King

Aristocracy

Free Peasants/Merchants/Craftsmen

Peasants

Debt - Slaves

Compare and contrast Greek and Compare and contrast Greek and Persian civilizations politically. (What Persian civilizations politically. (What was necessary for each system to was necessary for each system to succeed?)succeed?)

Culture (Beliefs)Culture (Beliefs) Anthropomorphic Anthropomorphic

godsgods Public sacrificePublic sacrifice Family Family

IndividualIndividual Pre – Socratic Pre – Socratic

philosophersphilosophers LogographersLogographers Herodotus (485 – Herodotus (485 –

425 BCE)425 BCE)

What social and intellectual factors What social and intellectual factors contributed to the evolution of the contributed to the evolution of the heightened importance of the heightened importance of the individual?individual?

Make a case for one of the following Make a case for one of the following statements:statements:

Herodotus was the first real historian.Herodotus was the first real historian.

Herodotus was NOT the first real Herodotus was NOT the first real historian.historian.

77thth c. BCE c. BCE No colonists No colonists

– invasion of – invasion of MesseniaMessenia

HelotsHelots Military Military

preparednespreparednesss

Time warpTime warp PeloponnesiaPeloponnesia

n Leaguen League

SpartaSparta

AthensAthens Big territory, Big territory, populationpopulation

594 BCE – 594 BCE – Solon: wealth Solon: wealth linked to linked to democracy – democracy – expandedexpanded

460s – 450s – 460s – 450s – Pericles: Pericles: Assembly, Assembly, Council of 500, Council of 500, People’s CourtsPeople’s Courts

Why were the two polis of Sparta and Why were the two polis of Sparta and Athens so different from one Athens so different from one another? What accounted for those another? What accounted for those differences?differences?

Can a case be made that ancient Can a case be made that ancient Sparta was just as democratic as Sparta was just as democratic as ancient Athens in the 7ancient Athens in the 7thth – 5 – 5thth centuries BCE? Why or why not?centuries BCE? Why or why not?