THE PERSIANS
THE HEIGHT OF SOUTHWEST
ASIA’S CLASSICAL SOCIETIES
THE ACHAEMENID EMPIRE
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Persians and Medes are Iranians, related to Indo-Europeans
The Medes
– Migrated from central Asia to Persia before 1000 B.C.E.
– Indo-European speakers, sharing cultural traits with the Aryans
– Persians were one of the tribes of Medes
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Cyrus the Great (reigned 558-530 B.C.E.)
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A tough, wily leader, military strategist
Became the king of the Persians in 558 B.C.E., all Medes in 548 BCE
Conquered Lydia, Chaldean Empires
Established vast empire stretching from India to Mediterranean
Viewed favorably in the Old Testament: allowed Jews to return home
Cambyses, son of Cyrus (re. 530-522 B.C.E.)
– Conquered Egypt in 525
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Darius (re. 521-486 B.C.E.)
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A young kinsman of Cyrus
Built the largest empire in world history: conquered Indus Valley
Ruled more than 70 ethnic groups
Built new capital at Persepolis, 520 B.C.E.
ADMINISTRATION
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Divided the empire into 23 satrapies
– Satraps (governors)
 Appointed by the central government
 Local officials were drawn from local peoples
 Local policies included self-government, toleration
– Satraps' power
 Represent Emperor, maintain defense, collect taxes
 Checked by military officers and "imperial spies“
 Checked by Zoroastrianism, codes of honor, fear of Emperor
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Replaced irregular tribute payments with formal taxes
Military: largest in history until Romans, Chinese
– Common levies from each province
– Persian cavalry; Persian Immortals: elite shock troops
– Mercenaries included Greeks
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Standardization of coins and laws
Communication systems
– Persian Royal Road links Susa (Asia Minor, Lydia to Susa, in Persia)
– Postal stations with postal relay riders
THE PERSIAN EMPIRE
PERSEPOLIS
THE WARS WITH GREECE
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The Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.)
– Ionian Greeks rebelled
– Greek free city states sent aid to rebels
– Persian rulers put down rebellion
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Darius invaded Greece to punish Greeks
– Won battle of Thermopolyae
– Did not live long enough to finish job
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Xerxes (reigned 486-465 B.C.E.)
– Retreated from the policy of cultural toleration
– Caused ill will and rebellions among subject peoples
– Lost both land and sea battles to Greeks
 Battles of Marathon
 Battle of Salamis
ALEXANDER
AND HIS HEIRS
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Alexander of Macedon
– Invaded Persia in 334 B.C.E.
– Battle of Gaugamela, ended Achaemenid empire, 331 B.C.E.
– Alexander burned the city of Persepolis, conquered whole empire
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The Diadoche
– Successor states to Alexander
– Divided his empire between them
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The Seleucids
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Inherited the largest part of the former Achaemenid empire
Retained the Achaemenid system of administration
Met opposition from native Persians
Lost control over northern India and Iran
SUCCESSORS TO PERSIA
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The Parthians
– Overthrew Selecuids in 238 BCE
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Based in Iran, extended to Mesopotamia
Retained some traditions of nomadic people
Formidable power of Parthian heavy cavalry because of alfalfa diet of horses
Established a mighty empire through East SW Asia by conquests
– Portrayed themselves as restorers of the Persian tradition
 Followed the example of the Achaemenids in administration
 Clan leaders as satraps: potential threats for central government
– Opposed expanding Roman empire, 1st century C.E.
– Internal rebellion brought it down in the early 3rd century C.E.
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The Sasanids
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From Persia, claimed direct descent from the Achaemenids
Toppled the Parthians in 224 C.E., new capital at Ctesiphon
Government stronger, better organized, more absolute than Parthian
Traded throughout Arabia, SW Asia, Indian Ocean, Central Asia
Devout Zoroastrians much opposed to early spread of Christianity
Battled the Kushan Empire in the east
Battled the Roman and Byzantine empires in the west, 3rd century C.E.
In 651 C.E., the empire conquered by Arabs
IMPERIAL SOCIETY, ECONOMY
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Social Development in Classical Persia
– Nomadic character of early Persian society
 Similar to the Aryans in India
 Importance of family and clan relationships
– Imperial bureaucrats
 Needed educated bureaucrats
 Shared power with warriors and clan leaders
– Free classes
 In the city: artisans, craftsmen, merchants, civil servants
 In the countryside: peasants - building underground canals (qanat)
 Slaves in both cities and countryside
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Economic Foundations of Classical Persia
– Agriculture was the economic foundation
 Main crops: Barley and wheat
 Supplemental crops: peas, lentils, mustard, garlic, onions, cucumber
 Large agricultural surplus
– Trade
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Commercial zone from India to Egypt
Political stability promoted growth of trade
Standardized coins (Gold Darics were first in world), good trade routes
Specialization of production in different regions
PERSIAN RELIGION
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Zarathustra and his faith
– Earliest Persian religion resembled that of the Aryans
– Zoroastrianism, emerged from teachings of Zarathustra
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The Gathas
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Zoroastrian teachings, transmitted orally, many perished
Preserved later in writing, by magi
Compilation of the holy scriptures, Zend Avesta, under Sasanid dynasty
Zarathustra's own writing survived, known as Gathas
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Ahura Mazda as a supreme deity, with six lesser deities
Cosmic conflict between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman, Shaitan)
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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Attracted Persian aristocrats and ruling elites
Darius regarded Ahura Mazda as supreme God
The faith was most popular in Iran
Sizable followings in Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Egypt, and other regions
Zoroastrian teachings
Popularity of Zoroastrianism
RELIGIONS OF SALVATION
Zoroastrian community suffered during Alexander's invasion
 Zoroastrianism was the official religion during Sasanid rule
 The Zoroastrians' difficulties
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Extreme rivalries with Christianity (Orthodox, Monophysites)
Arabs conquered Sasanid empire, seventh century C.E.
Some Zoroastrians fled to India
Remaining Zoroastrians converted to Islam
Few faithful Zoroastrians still exist in modern day Iran
Other faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, and Manichaeism
Influence of Zoroastrians
– Influence on Jewish religion: belief in future reward and punishment
– Influence on Christianity: concepts of heaven and hell
– Later influenced Islam; one of Muhammad’s protected faiths