0
Persian Empire
At different times, under different ruling families, there were several different Persian Empires. Usually, the term refers to the Achaemenid dynasty empire founded by Cyrus the Great (559BC - 530BC) which was eventually conquered by Alexander the Great. To rule such a large empire, new groundbreaking systems were set up which influenced all who came after.
2,471 Questions
Why did the Persians dislike Athens?
When the Ionian Greek city-states revolted against Persian rule, Eretria and Athens sent contingents to aid them. They advance to the Persian provincial capital of Sardis and burnt it, also despoiling the city's gods. Persian king Darius vowed retribution, and when the Persians captured Athens 2o years lated they returned the favour.
the mongols tolerated Persian religions but suppressed Chinese religions
Why was the location of the Persian Empire important?
It incorporated the highly productive and populated Fertile Crescent and Egypt, the cradle of civilisation.
What elements contributed to the efficient system of communication in the Persian Empire?
Where possible, the Persians communicated by ship as the fastest means. For areas not close to waterways they established a horse courier system with way stations with relief mounts and couriers.
How did Zoroastrianism influence the way Persian empire was governed?
It didn't. The Empire was governed according to simple rules - local government was by local people according to their traditional model. This was supervised by 20 provincial governors who were also responsible for security and tax collection. A king and his council oversighted the governors.
Zoroaster was a Persian god who had a cult following; the king accepted him an important god. The peoples of the Empire retained their customary gods.
It provided for local internal and external security, and allowed the different peoples to retain their traditional culture and governance.
Cyrus the Great held his growing empire together by what?
Firstly by bringing the Medes into alliance and using the combined Persian-Mede power to take over the Babylonian Empire, and then extend it to Asia Minor, North Africa, Central Asia and western India. He then began to establish a governing system, but finalising this was left to successor Darius the Great who divided the empire into 20 provinces which administered and defended the vast territory.
He was a king who inherited the throne of Persia from his father Darius the Great. As king, he controlled the Persian Empire through 21 provincial governors who ran the empire under supervision of the king and his council.
A tyrant was someone in the Greek world who was appointed to rule for the benefit of all, to replace other forms of unsuccessful government - especially oligarchs - a coterie of aristocrats who ruled for their own interests. In Athens Peisistratus was appointed tyrant to do this as sole ruler - to rule for the people and keep the aristocrats in check. The problem was that he and his successors had to be wary that the oligarchs did not assassinate them, so they had to employ a strong bodyguard, and levy taxes to pay them. Greeks did not like taxes, and so the tyrants were expelled and replaced by a democracy.
The Romans had a similar appointment - Dictator, who was appointed to rule when there had been a breakdown in the normal political system. This was however for a six month period only, to sort out the problem. Julius Caesar, faced with endless uprisings of the nobility, made himself dictator for life to bring stability after the civil war. This unwittingly left the only way out for the aspiring aristocracy - to end that life.
So the modern use of tyrant as someone who rules ruthlessly is somewhat different from the purpose for which they were appointed.
The Assyrians exchanged aristocracies between areas, so the new foreign rulers would not be sympathetic to the people under their control, and so not lead or tolerate revolts (that is what happened with the 10 northern tribes of Israel). Their successor the Babylonians followed the same policy (that is what happened to the aristocracy of the Judah and Benjamin). The Persians simply divided their empire into 20 provinces with Persian governors who oversaw the cities, tribes and principalities which were left under their traditional rulers.
What caused the subjects of the Persian empire to rebel?
Aristagoras, the Greek tyrant appointed to control Miletus, persuaded the Persian provincial governor into a joint attempt to take Naxos. When this failed, Aristagoras knew he was set for retribution, and conned the other Greek cities of Asia Minor into rebelling against Persian rule, leading to 50 years of warfare between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states of the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Greek city-states were conned into rebellion by Aristagoras, a Greek who the Persians had appointed as tyrant of Miletus. He had talked the Persian governor into supporting a takeover of Naxos; it failed and he knew that punishment was coming to him, and organised the revolt by the already restive Greek city-states to protect himself, known as the Ionian Revolt beginning in 499 BCE.
Why did the Persians grow unhappy with their government?
There is no basis for this statement. The Persian Empire lasted for two hundred years before being invaded and taken over by Macedonia.
What physical environment did the ancient Persia live in?
Ancient Persia, primarily located in present-day Iran, was characterized by a diverse physical environment that included vast deserts, mountain ranges, and fertile plains. The Zagros Mountains to the west and the Alborz Mountains to the north provided natural barriers and resources, while the Iranian Plateau featured arid landscapes interspersed with oases. The region's climate varied from arid and semi-arid in the central areas to more temperate conditions in the northern regions, supporting agriculture in suitable areas along rivers like the Karun and Zayandeh. This varied geography influenced the development of Persian civilization, trade routes, and agricultural practices.
What are two factors weakened the Persian Empire?
The breakaway of the Greek city-states of Asia Minor, the rise of Macedonia and its conquest of Persia.
A fleet of ships was the most efficient. For those areas not accessible by water, there was a horsed courier system with way stations with fresh mounts to speed progress.
The Mongols tolerated Persian religions but suppressed Chinese religions.
What was the extent and impact or the early classical Persian Empire?
It stretched from Libya to Central Asia. It sought to bring security, stability and prosperity to its diverse peoples.
