Ancient Ancient PersiaPersia

Ancient Persia was an Era Ancient Persia was an Era filled withfilled with

religion, conquests, religion, conquests, interactions, and trade. This interactions, and trade. This society really shows people society really shows people what it means to rise to the what it means to rise to the top with amazing leaders top with amazing leaders

that lead you into the right that lead you into the right paths. paths.

Ancient CivilizationAncient Civilization

Persia is a civilization whose success was attributed to their peaceful methods and ways of expansion. Their location was also a right hand in their expansion and conquests.

Geography of Ancient Geography of Ancient PersiaPersia

•Indo-Europeans migrated from Central Indo-Europeans migrated from Central Europe and southern Russia Europe and southern Russia to mountains east of Fertile Crescent. to mountains east of Fertile Crescent. •The area extended from Caspian Sea to The area extended from Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf. Persian Gulf. •This area had rich farmland, many This area had rich farmland, many minerals such as copper, lead, gold, silver, minerals such as copper, lead, gold, silver, and blue lapis and blue lapis lazuli. lazuli. •Also known as present day Iran.Also known as present day Iran.

Cyrus the Great (559-530) came into power after he overthrew Medians in 558. Cyrus first had to join his power over Iranian tribes on the Iranian plateau before expanding to the west. After Croesus, king of Lydia in Anatolia, enlarged his territory at the expense of the Medes, Cyrus marched against Lydia. Sardis, the Lydian capital, was captured in 547 or 546. Next Cyrus turned to Babylonia, where the people were unsatisfied with the ruler Nabonidus gave Cyrus a cause to invade the lowlands. The conquest was quick, because priests of Marduk, the national deity of the great metropolis of Babylon, had become separated from Nabonidus. In October 539 BC, the greatest city of the ancient world fell to the Persians. The capture of Babylon delivered not only Mesopotamia into the hands of Cyrus but also Syria and Palestine, which had been conquered previously by the Babylonians. Cyrus had a very imperialistic way of conquering. Instead of burning cities and killing the civilians of those areas, he decided to honor local customs and traditions. In his conquests he spilled little to no blood of the city people. He is known for freeing the Jewish captives in Babylonia and allowing them to return to their homeland. Cyrus was also tolerant toward the Babylonians and others. He showed respect local populations by supporting local customs and sacrificing to local gods.

Cyrus’s successor and son Cambyses (530-522) seized Egypt in 525 b.c. He is known for ordering for images of Egyptian gods to be burned. After his death rebellions broke out and the empire seemed to be fragile.

Cambyses’s successor Darius (521-486) conquered Afghanistan and India. While in power Egypt, Anatolia, part of east India, and center Fertile Crescent were embraced as part of the empire. The empire expanded 2500 miles from east to west during Darius’s reign. Created Royal Road which ran from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia, ran 1667 miles. Helped unite the large kingdom with satraps and manufacturing metal coins.

Darius extended the Persian empire to its farthest boundaries, extending all the way into Macedon just northeast of Greece. When the Greek cities of Asia Minor revolted against the high tributes demanded of them by the Persian empire, the Athenians joined in and conquered and burned Sardis, the capital of Lydia, in 498 BC. The Athenians, however, lost interest in the Greek struggle against Persia and, by 495 BC, Darius had reconquered Asia Minor.

Conquests•Cyrus the Great (559-530) came into power after he overthrew Medians in 558. Cyrus the Great (559-530) came into power after he overthrew Medians in 558.

Cyrus first had to join his power over Iranian tribes on the Iranian plateau before Cyrus first had to join his power over Iranian tribes on the Iranian plateau before expanding to the west. expanding to the west. •The king of Lydia in Anatolia, enlarged his territory at the expense of the The king of Lydia in Anatolia, enlarged his territory at the expense of the Medes then Cyrus marched against Lydia. Sardis, the Lydian capital, was conquered in Medes then Cyrus marched against Lydia. Sardis, the Lydian capital, was conquered in 547 or 546. 547 or 546. •Next Cyrus turned to Babylonia, where the people were unsatisfied with the ruler Next Cyrus turned to Babylonia, where the people were unsatisfied with the ruler Nabonidus gave Cyrus a cause to invade the lowlands. The conquest was quick, because Nabonidus gave Cyrus a cause to invade the lowlands. The conquest was quick, because priests of Marduk, the national deity of the great metropolis of Babylon, had become priests of Marduk, the national deity of the great metropolis of Babylon, had become separated from Nabonidus. In October 539 BC, the greatest city of the ancient world fell separated from Nabonidus. In October 539 BC, the greatest city of the ancient world fell to the Persians. to the Persians. •The capture of Babylon delivered not only Mesopotamia into the hands of Cyrus but also The capture of Babylon delivered not only Mesopotamia into the hands of Cyrus but also Syria and Palestine, which had been conquered previously by the Babylonians. Syria and Palestine, which had been conquered previously by the Babylonians. •Cyrus had a very imperialistic way of conquering. Instead of burning cities and Cyrus had a very imperialistic way of conquering. Instead of burning cities and killing the civilians of those areas, he decided to honor local customs and traditions. killing the civilians of those areas, he decided to honor local customs and traditions. •In his conquests he spilled little to no blood of the city people. He is known for freeing In his conquests he spilled little to no blood of the city people. He is known for freeing the Jewish captives in Babylonia and allowing them to return to their homeland. the Jewish captives in Babylonia and allowing them to return to their homeland. Cyrus was also tolerant toward the Babylonians and others. He showed respect local Cyrus was also tolerant toward the Babylonians and others. He showed respect local populations by supporting local customs and sacrificing to local gods. populations by supporting local customs and sacrificing to local gods.

Conquest con’tConquest con’t.

. . •Cyrus’s successor and son Cambyses (530-522) seized Egypt in 525 BC He is known for Cyrus’s successor and son Cambyses (530-522) seized Egypt in 525 BC He is known for ordering for images of Egyptian gods to be burned. After his death rebellions broke out and ordering for images of Egyptian gods to be burned. After his death rebellions broke out and the empire seemed to be fragile.the empire seemed to be fragile.•Cambyses’s successor Darius (521-486) conquered Afghanistan and India. While in power Cambyses’s successor Darius (521-486) conquered Afghanistan and India. While in power Egypt, Anatolia, part of east India, and center Fertile Crescent were embraced as part of the Egypt, Anatolia, part of east India, and center Fertile Crescent were embraced as part of the empire. empire. • By 495 Darius conquered Asia Minor.• He was unsuccessful in trying so conquer the Scythians in 512BC.• Had to conquer Babylon again after they revolted with the help of a general that deceived the Babylonians in 520BC

ExpansioExpansionsnsWhile Cyrus the Great, Cambyses, and Darius were

all in reign Persian territory expanded over 2500 miles in Asia. •Cyrus expanded the nation into Lydia, Babylonia(which was a great accomplishment), Syria, and Palestine. •Cambyses’s short 6 year reign over Persia, he expanded into Egypt. • Last, Darius made the greatest expansions in Persia. He conquered Afghanistan and Parts of India. He was also the first to create the Royal Road that expanded from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia, it ran 1667 miles. The Royal Road and the satraps (governors) helped unite the large kingdom that he lived in.

http://archaeology.about.com/od/pethroughpg/g/persian_empire.htm

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/asbook05.html http://www.webindia123.com/history/ANCIENT/period%20of

%20conquest%20and%20religious%20upheavel/period1.htm http://www.crystalinks.com/persia.html http://www.jmu.edu/orgs/persianclub/newpage/persia_art.htm http://history-world.org/cyrus.htm Roger B. Beck, Linda Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor,

Dahia Ibo Shabaka, World History: Patterns of Interaction (Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell inc, 2001) 92-96

http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php?Dir=wars&FileName=wars_persianconquest.php