1g Persia

David Wang Persia 1000 BCE The rise - 1000 BCE irrigation ebable ppl to move down from the mountains valleys to the plains - Created underground irrigation channels to prevent evaporation Early political groups - Medes was the 1st pol. Group - Located in the NW and influenced by Mesopotamia - Persian rulers were called Achaemenids - Traced their lineage to Achaemenes a male head of household who had absolute authority over family members Social Classes - 1) warriors – dominant – hunting, fishing - King member of warrior class - 2) priest (magi) supervised sacrifice - 3) peasants – common ppl - Village based farmers and shepherds Cyrus -son of a Persian chieftain and median princess -United various Persian tribes -Over threw the median monarch -Ruled 550BCE – 530 BCE -Moved into Mesopotamia in 530BCE -Skilled propagandist Cambyses - Cyrus’ son - took power in 530bce when Cyrus died - died in 522BCE - Darius 1 seized power Darius I - ruled 522- 486 BCE - considered the 2nd founder of Persia - extended Persia’s control to the Indus valley and into Europe - Created the largest empire the world had seen Infrastructure - promoted and developed maritime routes - completed a canal linking the red sea and the Nile - well maintained and patrolled roads - way stations built and intervals political organizations - Darius 1 created an organization structure that maintained the empire for the next two centuries - administrative center was Susa Darius remembered as a lawgiver - created the laws of the king - created a system of royal judges - Darius remembered as a lawgiver - created laws of the king - created a system of royal judges - Darius began creating a ceremonial capital at Persepolis for coronations, royal buildings, funerals and new years festival - finished by his son Xerxes The kings Entourage - lived and traveled together – included: o his numerous wives o sons of Persian aristocrats o many noblemen o an administrative team

David Wang

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royal body guards countless courtiers and slaves

Religious - Zoroastrianism the main religion - Believed in one supreme deity - Held human to high ethical standards - Promised salvation - Traveled across Asia as Persia expanded - May have influenced Judaism