The Persian Empire
Eurasian Empires, 500 BCE- 500 CE
Absolute Monarchs
A monarchial form of government where the monarch
exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and
head of government, thus wielding political power over the
sovereign state and its subjects. (princeton.edu)
Define absolute monarch in your won words.
List two synonyms.
Cyrus and Darius
Famous Persian Monarchs
Conquest reached from Egypt to India, encompassing in a
single state some 35 million people, an immensely diverse
realm, containing dozens of people, states, languages, and
cultural traditions.
They ruled by the will of the great Persian god Ahura
Mazda.
In the eyes of many, Persian monarchs fully deserved their
effusive title.
Cyrus and Darius
Persians Reject Democracy
Herodotus, a Greek historian, wrote The History, where he sheds
light on the Persians’ rejection of democracy and Darius ascension
to the Persian throne.
Read the excerpt and answer the following questions:
1.
What does Otanes suggests? How does he feel about monarchs?
2.
What does Megabyzus suggest? How does he feel about
democracy?
3.
What does Darius say about oligarchy? What does he suggest as
the best form of government? What are his reasons?
Audience Hall
Persepolis, the Persian Empire’s ancient capital.