Questions and Answers
When did Cyrus the Great establish the Achaemenid Empire?
Around 550 BC
What motivated Cambyses II to invade Egypt?
Revenge against Pharaoh Amasis II
How did Cambyses establish the Persian navy?
By ordering the construction of 300 trireme warships
What was the outcome of the first major battle between Persia and Egypt?
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What marked the end of native Egyptian rule according to the text?
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Who sought to expand the empire by invading Egypt?
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Study Notes
- Cyrus the Great established the Achaemenid Empire around 550 BC, making it the first major power in the Near East.
- Cyrus' son and successor, Cambyses II, sought to expand the empire by invading Egypt.
- Born around 560 BC to Queen Cassandana, Cambyses was the eldest son of Cyrus and a descendant of the legendary founder of the Persian Empire, King Achaemenes.
- Cambyses was sent away before Cyrus' defeat and death at the hands of Queen Tomyris and the Massagetae in 530 BC.
- Motivated by a desire for revenge against Pharaoh Amasis II for deceiving him during a marriage arrangement, Cambyses invaded Egypt around 525 BC.
- Cambyses established the Persian navy by ordering the construction of 300 trireme warships, which were predominantly built and manned by Phoenicians.
- Cambyses easily conquered Cyprus and negotiated a treaty with the Arabs, allowing for safe passage and control over strategic regions like Gaza.
- The first major battle between Persia and Egypt took place at Pelusium in May 525 BC, resulting in a decisive Persian victory and the death of about 50,000 Egyptians.
- Following the victory, Cambyses sought to desecrate the tomb of Pharaoh Amasis II as punishment for the deceit during the marriage arrangement.
- Cambyses' invasion of Egypt marked the end of native Egyptian rule and the beginning of the 27th Persian-controlled dynasty.
- Despite embracing local traditions, Cambyses is often portrayed as a mad ruler who desecrated temples and ridiculed local gods by Herodotus.
- After conquering Egypt, Cambyses set his sights on Cyrenaica in eastern Libya but was unable to conquer the region due to the reluctance of his Phoenician soldiers.
- Cambyses mysteriously received a thigh wound en route to deal with a rebellion at home and died in the Syrian city of Agbatana in June 522 BC.
- Cambyses was succeeded by his younger brother, Bardiya, who was later branded an imposter and assassinated by seven Persian noblemen.
- Darius, a conspirator who claimed to be a cousin of Cyrus, was selected as the new ruler by the other six noblemen.
