The Persian Empire
Start of the Persian Empire
• Starts with Indo-European migrations
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• Land was farmable and had precious minerals for trading
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Leaders of the Persian Empire
• 3 major leaders to the Persian Empire
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• Other famous Persian Leaders
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Persia Under Cyrus & Cambyses
• Rules from 550-530 BCE
– Expanded empire from Anatolia to Indus river in only 12 years
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• Prayed at the statues of a city’s gods
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• Did not allow looting or burning; shows respect
• Cambyses takes over when father dies
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Persia Under King Darius
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– Not related to the previous leaders
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– Split empire in 20 sections; used satraps
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• Expanded empire further
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– Also used metal coins like in Asia
Persian Religion-Zoroastrianism
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– Taught that 2 armies were fighting for a person’s soul
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– Believed that people’s decisions determined their fate in the afterlife
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– Similar to the ideas of Christianity, Islam and Judaism
• Religion named- ____________________________