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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
What did the ancient Greeks wear in battle?
A 'panoply of arms' - helmet, breastplate, shin greaves, a shield, a sword or spear. The principal weapon was the spear, which progressively went from about 6 ft to 21 ft, as the tactics changed. The warrior was known as an hoplite (after the Greek word hopla = panopoly of arms). You got warrior status if you owned one. Otherwise you were light infantry with the job of throwing javelins and rocks or using bows and dispatching fallen enemy.
The phalanx changed from a shield wall to a serious mass of men sixteen deep with the long pikes. The first three rows used their pikes, while ranks behind shoved. Two opposing phalanxes would have a shoving match. A phalanx against a not-so-solid opposing infantry horde ran over the top of them.
Alexander protected the phalanx's flanks with light infantry and cavalry, and so defeated the Persians who simply could not get their heavy infantry to stand up to them. The Romans finally put an end to the phalanx by running rings around them, exploiting the phalanx's immobility by harrassing with light infantry and cavalry, with their own open-fighting infantry methods to do the final demolition.
This end was very predictable. Two hundred years earlier, a Spartan battalion outside Corinth in the 390s BCE was wrecked by Thracian peltasts (light infantry) directed by Athenian general Iphicrates.
Why didn't Philip II conquer the Persian Empire?
I presume you mean Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. Philip spent much of his reign conquering and extending his influence in Greece and its near neighbours, having inherited a weakened kingdom from his brother. By the time he had consolidated his position as leader of the League of Corinth and was ready to start turning to attack Persia, it was 337 B.C., and he was assassinated the following year with the invasion hardly started.
Who were the ephors in Sparta similar to in Persia?
The five ephors were the governing council in Sparta, handling day to day matters. The dual kings of Sparta had mainly religious and war leader duties, and were advised by the ephors who effectively exercised political control.
In Persia government was by the king, whose council advised him, but did not wield power.
How did Persian and Greek civilizations differ in their political organization and values?
The Persian Empire was ruled by a king and his council, with its provinces ruled by Persian governors supervising the local governments.
The Greek world was comprised of a couple of thousand independent city-states spread around the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
What were the roles of men in ancient Persia?
Men in ancient Mesopotamia had the most power, like most patriarchal societies. They took on political roles, and were normally held the higher position in religious roles (Gods, priests, etc.)
How did Alexander the great try to unite Persia and greek cultures?
He had grand plans for empirial expanisonism by building a huge fleet to expand across north Africa, Italy and iberia and to build structres as grandiose as the great pyramids.
I guess he would have wanted to just keep ahold of Persia and maybe even look into expanding further east.
Main battles of the Greeks and the Persians?
490 BCE Marathon - a Persian amphibious punitive expedition against Athens and Eretria defeated.
480 BCE Salamis - the Persian fleet defeated at Salamis, forcing the withdrawal of half their army due to consequent sea resupply problems.
479 BCE Plataia -the remainder of the Persian army and its Greek allies defeated.
479 BCE - the remainder of its fleet destroyed at Mykale.
466 BCE Eurymedon - Persian fleet destroyed in a sea and following land battle on the Eurymedon River, forcing them to agree to stay out of Greek waters.
334 BCE Granicus - Alexander defeated a Persian army on the Granicus River in Asia Minor.
333 BCE Issus - Alexander defeated the Persian army at Issus, capturing their warchest which enabled him to continue his campaign.
331 BCE Gaugamela - Alexander finally defeated the Persian army in Mesopotamia and moved on to take over the remaining Persian empire.
On what island did the Athenians take refuge to watch the Persians burn their city in 380bc?
In 480 BCE, the Athenians evacuated their population to other cities eg Epidaurus. The military forces embarked and drew up their ships, along with the rest of the Greek fleet on the island of Salamis as they prepared for a decisive naval battle.
Who was the king that established the Akkadian empire?
Thename of the king of the Akkadians who conquered Mesopotamia in 2340bc was Sargon.
How did Darius I organize the Persian Empire?
He divided it into 20 provinces with Persian governor responsible for internal and external security, taxes and economic advancement, overseen by the king and his council, and established Aramaic as a lingua franca for communication.
Athens Spartha other city-state join to fight the Persians?
Athens led 180 eastern Greek city-states against the Persians in the last 30 years of the 50-year Persian War.
Why did Persia rise into a great empire?
Persia took over its overlord Media under Cyrus the Great, and their combined power was able to seize the Babylonian Empire. Cyrus' ambition led him to further conquests of Asia Minor and Palestine in the west, and central Asia in the west. His successor. His son Cambyses took Egypt and Libya, then his successor Darius consolidated the with further additions. When people start conquering, it is difficult for them to stop until either they are defeated or they reach the natural geographic limits and resources to take more.
What did the Persians wear during the battle of Thermopylae?
Helmets, padde protective jackets, wicker shields and sandals.
What did Alexander the Great's conquests of Greece Asia Minor Egypt and Persia lead to?
he won against the Persians
Did the Persian army conquer Greece at Athens?
Yes. In 332 BC, Egpyt was under the control of Alexander the Great from Greece. He was a large influence there, and founded one of Egypts greatest cities, Alexandria. Greek rule lasted until 30 BC, long after the death of the great conqueror, Alexander.
How did the Greco-Persian War affect Greek civilization?
Ancient Greece did not expand into the Persian Empire. Greece was comprised of over 2,000 independent city-states, the ones in Asia Minor being inside the Persian Empire. It was the Macedonians under Alexander the Great who expanded into and took over the Persian Empire. Alexander's successors divided the Empire into kingdoms of their own (Egypt, Syria-Mesopotamia etc , and these lasted a couple of hundred years until the expanding Roman Empire absorbed them.
1 Persian War
2 Peloponnesian War
3 Alexander invaded Persia
4 Alexandria developed.
What is the legacy of Alexander the great's conquest of Egypt Persia and parts of India?
There were elements of Greek culture imposed, which lasted in some limited areas amongst the upper class for a few centuries, but this was progressively displaced by the takeover of emerging eastern takeovers, and finally submerged by the takeover by Islam.
How was the empire of Cyrus the great describe?
It extended from Asia Minor to today's Pakistan. It was governed by provincial governors controlling indigenous city, principality and tribal local governments. Its government was designed to maintain peace, order and prosperity.
Did Alexander the Great conquer the Persian Empire in the 300s bc?
At the time, Egypt was part of the Persian Empire, but Alexander conquered it separately before turning toward Persia Major. For one thing, Egypt was revolting against Persia and welcomed Alexander as a liberator. Plus, Alexander used the wealth of Egypt to finance the campaign against Persia.
How did the Persian Empire collapse?
The invasion by king of Macedonia Alexander the Great, who turned the empire into an empire of his own.
What where the consequences of the Persian War?
Athens formed and empire out of the cities it had led against the Persians, and used this to try to oppress its neighbours, resulting in the devastating 27-year Peloponnesian War, which it lost and was reduced to a second rate power.
What started the war between the Persians and the Greeks?
A revolt by the Greek city-states within the Persian Empire in Asia Minor in 499 BCE.
