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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
When the Persians ruled the Fertile Crescent what did they permit the Hebrews to do?
They allowed the Hebrews to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem and to have general religious freedom and autonomy within the Persian Empire.
Who is known for recording the events of the conflict between the Greeks and Persians?
Thucydides recorded the first half, but did not continue after 411 BCE Xenophon covered the second half to 404 BCE.
What was usually the outcome when Alexander and darius the third of Persia fought?
In both battles fought between Alexander III and Darius III, Alexander was the victor. This was due to the fact that Darius turned and ran both times, leaving his superior army leaderless and in disarray and Alexander was able to defeat the far larger Persian army. Alexander captured Darius's family during the first battle and he treated them as royalty instead of prisoners of war.
Is Persia the same size as ancient Greece?
The Persian Empire stretched from Libya to Central Asia. The Greek world stretched from Western Europe to Asia Minor.
Is prince of Persia real or not?
The Princes in the different Prince of Persia stories were inspired by other (fictional) persons, but they are not real persons themselves.
What happen after Cyrus became leader of the Persians?
He took over Media and used the combined strength to take over the Babylonian Empire, then extend it through western Asia.
Why do Plutarch's and Wiraz's views of Alexander's Persian conquests differ so greatly?
Plutach tried to describe a factual history, but he wrote it some 400 years after Alexander's reign and so you could hardly call him an eyewitness. It is also uncertain what exact source material he had available and how accurate and contemporary that was. What we do know is that he modelled Alexander's character much on that of Julius Caesar, whom he admired. Modern historians have doubts on several points of fact in Plutarchus' account, but it is the only detailed history of Alexander we have and there is supporting evidence for much of what he writes.
The Book of Arda Viraf was written even more than 700 years after that of Plutarch and it is not even an attempt at factual history writing, but "the dream-journey of a devout Zoroastrian" called Wiraz (or Viraz, or Wiraf) who very probably was not even a real person. If we have doubts about the amount of hard evidence at the basis of Plutarch's history, we can at least double or triple those doubts for the Book of Arda Viraf written some one thousand years after Alexander's exploits. Alexander stands there accused of "destroying" Persia and its culture but that is certainly incorrect. Alexander loved the Persian culture and the trappings of the Oriental veneration for its monarch, which he now came to enjoy. The scriptures that he is said to have destroyed only came in written form long after his death and until then, were only oral history.
But regardless of the book's very shaky factual foundation, it represents a Persian point of view that was in consequence hostile to Alexander. Plutarch also had the disadvantage of writing long after Alexander lived (and he did also admire him) but in all probability his acces to Greek and Macedonian source material was infinitely better than that of the writer of the Book of Arda.
What was Persia called in Biblical times?
The name Persia actually comes from the Biblical Hebrew "Pars" (פרס). Therefore Persia is the Biblical name for the region.
Why the could the Persians not defeat the Greeks or Macedonians?
The Persian infantry was unarmoured and could not stand up to Greek and Macedonian infantry formations, particularly after both raised cavalry forces to match those of the Persians.
Which book in the Bible tells the story of a girl who becomes Queen of Persia?
Over the centuries, there have been many Persian queens. For example, King Xerxes was married to Queen Amestris for at least the first several years of his reign. On the other hand, the Book of Esther says that he was married to Queen Vashti for the first three years of his reign and then Queen Esther. In real life, these marriages never actually took place, because there was never either a Queen Vashti nor a Queen Esther of Persia. Scholars say that the Book of Esther was a second-century-BCE Jewish novel.
In ancient Persia messages could be sent rapidly because of an excellent system of?
cause it had a large system of devilers
The battle of Marathon is rather falsely touted in those terms. In fact it was a Persian punitive expedition against Athens for interfering in Greek city revolutions in Asia Minor (within the Persian Empire). Their loss at Marathon persuaded the Persians to return, though this was defeated by the southern Greek cities ten years later. It was not Persian despotism, it was about the Persians trying to maintain peace within their empire without having outsiders stoking up trouble. After a long intermittent war, Persia gave up and left the Greek cities to go back to their usual fighting each other.
Did part of the Persian Empire under Cyrus Strengthen or Weaken the Jews?
The Jews were very weak - they were ruled by aristocracies transplanted to rule them by the Assyrians and the Babylonians to keep them quiet. Cyrus allowed part of the exiled Jewish aristocracy to return to Judea to try to reestablish themselves. They had increasing success reestablishing their influence there, but the ten Jewish tribes in the north remained under the control of foreign local rulership.
What land features made ancient Persia easy to attack?
The Persian Empire at its peak stretched from Libya to Central Asia. There was plenty of frontier in those 7,000 km to enter at any point, by land or sea.
Weapons used by Athenians and Sparta in the battle of Marathon?
The Athenian armoured warriors used mainly spears but also had swords. They had archers in support.
The Spartans had the same but arrived too late for the battle and therefore did not participate.
What were the trade routes for the Persian Empire?
The Silk Road was the network of trade routes, it was formally established during the Han Dynasty of China.
Muslims never called the people of the conquered lands as conquered people. They freed their will to have the full freedom to select the faith they are convinced in. They followed the Quran teachings and never oppressed people to convert to Islam. They treated all people equally irrelevant to their races, colors, faiths, or social status. They never imposed additional taxes on non Muslims. The only tax that is called "Jezia" was imposed on non Muslims for forgiving them from joining the military service and that is why it was not imposed on women, children, old people, or sick people.
How did Alexander unite the Greeks and the Persians?
Alexander sought to create an empire, and by subjugating and organizing the lands more native to him (although as a Macedonian, he was not quite considered "Greek" by the standards of the day) he created a strong foundation to the empire that would span across the known world.
How did the Persians promote peace within their empire?
They established 20 provinces with Persian governors responsible for internal and internal security, overseen by the king and his council. The governors were also responsible for promoting prosperity and improving infrastructure in their province.
How big was the Safavid Empire at its greatest?
It stretched from Afghanistan in the east through the Middle East to Egypt in the west.
Did the Delian League defend its members from the Persians?
That was its purpose, and that it did successfully, so after 25 years the Persians agreed to peace.
