The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great

580 – 529 B. C. E.

580 – 529 B. C. E.

A tolerant ruler he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions.

The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.”

The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine).

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Built Persepolis.

He extended the

Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)

Built a canal in Egypt.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) Established a tax-

collecting system.

Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES.

Built the great Royal Road system.

Established a complex postal system.

Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

Imperial Organization and Imperial Organization and IdeologyIdeology

• From Darius on, the empire was divided From Darius on, the empire was divided into twenty provinces; a satrap who was into twenty provinces; a satrap who was related or connected to the royal court related or connected to the royal court administered each province administered each province

• Provinces were required to pay annual Provinces were required to pay annual tribute tribute

• The central government tended to hoard The central government tended to hoard so much gold and silver that these metals so much gold and silver that these metals became scarce and more expensive became scarce and more expensive

• The provinces were crossed by a system The provinces were crossed by a system of well-maintained roads that converged of well-maintained roads that converged on the capital city of Susa (in on the capital city of Susa (in southwestern Iran)southwestern Iran)

• The Persian kings developed a style of The Persian kings developed a style of kingship in which they were held powerful kingship in which they were held powerful masters of all their subjects and nobles masters of all their subjects and nobles

• They held vast amounts of land.They held vast amounts of land.

• Kings acted as lawgivers, but allowed Kings acted as lawgivers, but allowed each people of the empire to live in each people of the empire to live in accordance with its own traditionsaccordance with its own traditions

Ancient PersepolisAncient Persepolis

PersepolisPersepolis

The People of Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

Persian “Royal Road”Persian “Royal Road”

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:

Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:

Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”

Religion of PersiaReligion of Persia

• The major religion of the Persian Empire The major religion of the Persian Empire was Zoroastrianism. The origins of this was Zoroastrianism. The origins of this religion are unclear religion are unclear

• The most important text, the Gathas, (the The most important text, the Gathas, (the hymns of Zoroastrianism), were written hymns of Zoroastrianism), were written by Zoroaster (Zarathustra), who lived by Zoroaster (Zarathustra), who lived sometime between 1700 and 500 b.c.e sometime between 1700 and 500 b.c.e

• Zoroastrianism shows the existence of Zoroastrianism shows the existence of a dualistic universe in which the god of a dualistic universe in which the god of good, Ahuramazda, was locked in an good, Ahuramazda, was locked in an epic struggle against the god of evil, epic struggle against the god of evil, Angra Mainyu Angra Mainyu

• Zoroastrianism’s dualism may have had Zoroastrianism’s dualism may have had an influence on Judaism and thus on an influence on Judaism and thus on ChristianityChristianity

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.