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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
How does the Persians organize their empire and government?
Leaving local government intact, under appointed princes/chiefs/tyrants.
Appointing Persian provincial governors to oversee provinces, providing internal and external security and collecting taxes.
Providing the central direction of a king and his council.
Maintaining communications in a pre-electronic age, by ship and a system of road horse couriers.
What form of government did the Persian empire have?
Local government according to the traditional style in each city or area, with 20 Persian provincial governors, all overseen by a king and his council.
How long was the Persian Empire in existence?
The term Persian Empire is loosely used to cover several periods. The real empire of the Persians was 550-321 BCE. Other peoples took over Persia, starting with Alexander the Great.
What was the key to the growth of the Persian Empire?
Its military power after it added that of Media to its own, then harnessed progressively the resources of the peoples of central Asia, Asia Minor and north Africa.
What was the secret to the growth of the Persian empire?
It harnessed the resources of the countries it progressively conquered, and used them for further conquests.
Examples:
Army - the Persians first conquered the Medes, and then absorbed its army, and the combined force then took over the Babylonian empire, and then these combined armies moved further on. Against the southern Greeks at the battle of Plataia, a third of the Persian army was from Greek cities in central Greece.
Navy - Persia did not have a navy, it gained one by levying contingents from Egypt, Phoenicia and the Greek cities of Asia Minor.
How did King Darius improve trade in the Persian Empire?
He had everyone in the empire use the same money system of weights and measurements.
Cyrus did not have a policy of assimilation - the Persian Empire allowed its component peoples to retain their local governance, customs and cultures, supervised by provincial and imperial government.
How did Persia spread its culture to other regions of the world?
They spread it to America for independence.
What were some difficulties in ruling the Persian Empire?
Distance - it spanned about 4000kn.
Slowness of communication - horse couriers were slow across those distances.
Military response problems - the distances meant movement of armies took months, and resupply was difficult.
Disparate peoples meant difficulties in ruling them and unifying them.
The opportunities for revolution/secession.
Response to adverse seasons on regions and capacity to provide assistance.
What was the symbol of the Persian Empire?
A falcon with spread wings and legs and a halo-like circle on the head.
How are Cyrus the Second Cambyses the Second and Darius the First alike?
They successively set out to expand and consolidate the Persian Empire.
Why was the Persian empire important?
It provided security and stability for Western Asia for two centuries.
What was the rise of the Persian Empire?
Persia's absorption of Media and then conquest of the Babylonian Empire.
How did Cyrus build the Persian Empire?
By first allying Persia with Media, and then using this combined power to take over the Babylonian and Lydian Empires.
When did Alexandra conquer Susa the Persian Capital?
In the December of 331 B.C. Alexandra the Great had conquered Susa.
What point object did the flanks of the greek companions resemble when they charged at the Persians?
its called a cavalry
It's their genetics. Persians in general are amongst the most hairiest people in the world.
