Persians

By: Joe Ambuel, McKenzie Holtmann, Sean Clarkson, Drew Craig, Katie Frey, Torrie Kruse

Government

• Cyrus was one of the first rulers.

• He took over a lot of land in the middle east area.

• His son Cambyses took over the rest of desired land when he came to power. The best ruler among the Persian Empire was Darius.

• He reigned from 522 b.c. to 486 b.c.

Government Continued.

• He effectively divided the empire that stretched from the Nile to the Indus.

• He divided the realm into provinces.• Satraps or provincial governors, ruled these provinces.• A king claimed all of the territory but hardly did the work.• Military officials and tax inspectors let kings of conquered

lands to pick people to assist satraps.• Inspectors went throughout provinces.• Rulers were tolerant and let conquered people keep their

language, religion and laws.

Religion

• Before the 500’s BC the Persian worshipped many deities associated with the sky, the sun, and fire.

• Around 570 BC the prophet Zoroaster called for reform of Persian religion

• He preached the world was divided by a struggle between good and evil.

Religion Continued.

• The god Ahura Mazda led the focus of good against a lesser deity , Ahriman who represented the spirit of darkness.

• All humans who fought on Mazdas side against evil, would be rewarded with eternal life

• People who chose Ahriman would be condemned after death and sent to a life of misery.

• Teachings contained in a book called The Auesta

Economy of persia

• The academy was based on herding but the land was to poor for agriculture.

• They stayed isolated from trade, but encouraged their people to trade with foreign country.

• Were surrounded by many wealthy cities as well as their own prospered

Events

• Cyprus conquered the Medes

Added Mesopotamia, Syria, Canaan and Phoecian to empire

Took over kingdom of Lydia

Conquered Egypt in 525 BC

Persian empire from nile river to indus river valley

Events Continued

• Darius started a war against His son Xerxes had to take overFailed miserably• Cyrus the great was killed in battle at central

Asia in 530 BC• Persian Empire is broken down into provinces by

Darius• Most of eastern Europe is added to the Persian

Empire by Darius 520 BC- 510 BC• Egyptians revolted around 485 BC

Persian Rulers

• King Soloman- ruthlessly eliminated opponents, and established friends in hey points. Known alliances with queen of Sheba. Is considered very wise. Became ruler in 967 BC

• King David- great national hero of Israel. He was a great warrior, and he helped Israel to reach its greatest physical size. He captured Jerusalem. Greatest threat of his reign came from undisciplined sons

Persian resources

• They controlled rich agriculture land of Mesopotamia, the grasslands of Anatolia, trade routes in all direction, and rich deposit of metals

• Major natural resources-petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead , manganese, zinc, sulfur

• Agriculture products- Wheat, rice, grains, sugar beets, fruit, nuts, cotton, dairy, wool, caviar

• Industries- petrochemicals, textiles, cement, construction material, food processing, metal fabrication, armaments