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Questions and Answers
What was the official script of the Persian Empire?
Which of the following accurately represents the social class order in the Persian Empire?
What was the state religion of the Persian Empire until the Muslim conquest?
Who succeeded Cyrus the Great as king of the Persian Empire?
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What is a significant aspect of the political structure of the Persian Empire?
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What effect did varying punishments for different social classes have in Babylonian society?
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Which aspect of Babylonian writing distinguished it from earlier systems?
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What was one major scientific achievement of the Babylonians in mathematics?
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What was the Babylonian calendar structured around?
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What roles did the observatories in Babylonian temples serve?
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Study Notes
Persian Civilization
- The Persian Empire spanned several centuries, starting in the 6th century B.C. and continuing to the 20th century A.D.
- The first Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 B.C., became one of the largest empires in history.
- The empire stretched from Europe's Balkan Peninsula in the West to India's Indus Valley in the East.
- The Achaemenid Empire was a global hub of culture, religion, science, art, and technology for over 200 years.
- Cyrus the Great expanded the empire from the Indus River to Anatolia.
- Cambyses expanded the empire by conquering Egypt.
- The king’s law was considered the gods’ law and applied throughout the empire.
- The royal family, aristocracy/nobles, and military leaders held the highest positions of power under the king.
Zoroastrianism
- Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion that may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago.
- It is considered one of the oldest monotheistic religions still in existence.
- Zoroastrianism was the state religion of three Persian dynasties, until the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century A.D.
- Parsis, Zoroastrian refugees, escaped persecution in Iran by emigrating to India.
- Zoroastrianism has an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 worshippers worldwide and is practiced as a minority religion in parts of Iran and India.
Social Classes
- The social class order from top to bottom includes royalty, priests, aristocrats and military officers, merchants and craftsmen, peasants, and enslaved people.
System of Writing
- The official script of the Persian Empire was Ancient Persian cuneiform, developed during the reign of Darius I.
Impact of Social Classes
- Different punishments for different social classes deepened class distinctions.
- The legal code solidified an uneven balance of power.
- There was limited opportunity for social mobility.
Babylonian Civilization
- Babylonian writing developed from pictographs.
- Babylonians used cuneiform symbols written on wet clay tablets baked in the sun.
- The use of a stylus on clay led to the use of cuneiform symbols because curved lines couldn't be drawn.
- The Babylonians had a written language used for trade and communication.
- They used cuneiform symbols, pressing triangular shapes into soft clay.
- They wrote in two languages: Sumerian for religious purposes and Akkadian for official purposes.
Science & Technology
Astronomy
- Astronomy and astrology held a prominent place in Babylonian society.
- The zodiac was a Babylonian invention.
- Eclipses of the sun and moon could be predicted.
- Observatories were attached to temples, and reports were sent to the king.
- Stars were numbered and named, and tables of lunar longitudes and observations of the phases of Venus exist.
- The calendar featured a week of seven days and another of five days.
Mathematics
- The Babylonian system of mathematics was sexagesimal, or base 60.
- The square root of two was determined correctly to seven decimal places.
Jewelry Making
- Jewelry making originated from the Babylonians.
- They used metals and precious gems to create jewelry.
Calendar System
- The ancient Babylonians used a calendar with alternating 29 and 30 day months.
- An extra month was added three times every eight years.
- An additional extra month could be ordered by the king.
Farming Technique
- A large canal was dug during the reign of Hammurabi, connecting the city of Kish to the Persian Gulf.
- The crops of Babylon, including wheat and barley, were highly praised by Herodotus.
Assyrian Civilization
- The Assyrians originated from the northern part of Mesopotamia.
- Their flat, exposed land made them vulnerable to attacks from nearby mountains.
- Assyrian kings built an empire that stretched from east and north of the Tigris River to central Egypt.
- Tiglath-Pileser I founded an empire that controlled Babylon and received tribute from the Egyptians.
Government/ Laws
- Assyria had a centralized legal system that emphasized the rule of law through a detailed legal code.
- Laws covered administrative, civil, and criminal matters.
- Penalties ranged from fines to capital punishment.
- Laws were inscribed on public monuments to emphasize their importance.
- The king, along with nobility and high officials, enforced the laws.
Religion
- The chief god of the Assyrians was Ashur.
- Other gods were added to their pantheon after conquering new countries.
- King Ashurbanipal incorporated the name of Ashur into his own name.
- The Assyrians were interested in astrology and kept records of celestial movements.
- Ancient Assyrian religion was polytheistic, with many gods and goddesses associated with different aspects of life.
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Description
Explore the vast history of the Persian Empire, from its inception under Cyrus the Great to its remarkable cultural contributions. This quiz covers the empire's expansion, governance, and the influential religion of Zoroastrianism that emerged in ancient Persia. Dive into the key events and figures that shaped this ancient civilization.
