Ch 4 sec 3

Persia

• Located in SW Iran• Warrior and nomads who heard cattle• Cyrus the Great—builds large empire• Treats captives fairly• Empire is about the size of US

Darius

• 521 BC• Organizes gov’t to make more efficient• Empire is divided into 20 provinces– Called Satrapies– Ruled by official call satrap—protector of the

Kingdom

• Satrap is tax collector, judge, chief of police and head army recruiter

• Paid Army

Religion

• Zoroastrianism-Monotheistic• Supreme being

Battle of Marathon

• 490 BC Persians land 20,000 Soldiers• Short distance from Athens• 10,000 Greeks• Wait, Persian general is impatient• Leads strongest soldiers 1st

• Greeks charge and destroy weak soldiers• Darius dies in 486 BC Xerxes-son takes over