HIST 1010 Fall 2024 Lecture 012: Persian Empires PDF

HIST 1010 Fall 2024 Lecture 012: Persian Empires By Matt Malczycki Herodotus (d. ca 425 BCE) – Greek scholar, traveler, & writer – wrote a multi-volume book titled History – wrote about the Greco-Persian...

HIST 1010 Fall 2024 Lecture 012: Persian Empires By Matt Malczycki Herodotus (d. ca 425 BCE) – Greek scholar, traveler, & writer – wrote a multi-volume book titled History – wrote about the Greco-Persian Wars of 492-449 BCE) – some say he was the father of Western historiography – had major influence on how Western civ. thinks about East  useful vocab shah: a title of the former monarch of Iran; Persian word for king or emperor satrap: a provincial governor in the ancient Persian empire. satrapy: a province governed by a satrap.  Iran or Persia? – "Iran" comes from the word "Aryan." (Yes, the same Aryans who invaded India ca 1500 BCE.) – "Persia" comes from "Fars," which is a region in Iran. “Fars” gets changed to "Pars" in European languages. Fars Long story short, "Persia" means "the lands of the Parsi-s." – The language of Iran is "Farsi," a fact which further complicates the matter. The Persian Empire ca. 500 BCE Netchev, Simeon. "The Achaemenid Persian Empire c. 500 BCE." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified July 05, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16107/the-achaemenid-persian-empire-c-500-bce/.  Achaemenid Dynasty (559- 330 BCE) – inheritors of Mesopotamian traditions of kingship & empire BUT Achaemenids were first great Persian empire – built & maintained excellent bureaucracy (civil service) – usually religiously tolerant, especially in their early years – built roads, standardized weights & measures, created first major imperial coinage & cash economy – had tradition of giving heirs to the throne on-the-job training as satraps of Babylonia dynamosquito. "Ranks of Immortals." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 26, 2012. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/85/ranks-of-immortals/. Cyrus the Great (r. 559-530 BCE) – took Achaemenids from kingdom to empire – united Medes & Persians – religiously tolerant – mentioned in Bible (Ezra 1:1-4) because he freed Jews from Babylonian Exile – praised by friend & foe alike as ideal emperor – major cultural figure in Persia/Iran to the present – image to left: “Cyrus Cylinder;” some say it is 1st declaration of human rights in history Siamax. "Cyrus the Great." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 21, 2018. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8168/cyrus-the- great/.  Cambyses II (r. 530-522 BCE) – on-the-job training as satrap of Babylonia – added Egypt to Achaemenid Empire – Greeks said he committed atrocities in Egypt, but archaeology suggests otherwise Wikipedia. (2013, November 19). Cambyses II of Persia. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2135/cambyses-ii-of-persia/  Darius I (r. 521-486 BCE) – distant relative of Cambyses – won civil war& took throne – expanded to Indus R. Valley in east, Central Asia & Caucasus in north – took control of Black Sea grain trade = conflict with Greeks – invaded mainland Greece, but was defeated at Marathon in 490 BCE – also religiously tolerant: gave money to Egypt to rebuild their temples; allowed Jews to rebuild Temple in Jerusalem کاویانی, در٠ش. "Relief of Darius I from Persepolis." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified November 01, 2014. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/3220/relief-of-darius-i-from-persepolis/.  Xerxes I (r. 486-465 BCE) – satrap of Babylonia; became shah at 35 – revolts in Egypt & Babylonia early in his reign – broke with Achaemenid policy of religious tolerance; e.g. destroyed statue of Marduk at Babylon – favored Zoroastrianism – MIGHT be the Ahaseurus mentioned in the Book of Esther (although that might be Artaxerxes II instead) Lendering, Jona. "Xerxes I Relief." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified March 10, 2014. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/2369/xerxes-i-relief/.  Xerxes I (r. 486-465 BCE) – invaded Greece with lagre army in 480 – lost to Spartans @ Thermopylae & then to Athenians @ Salamis – retired to Persepolis after his defeat at Salamis – spent time & resources building up cities of Susa & Persepolis – The Greek sources say that his lust ended up getting him killed BUT the sex makes for better stories – Xerxes was assassinated in 465 BCE. An image of his tomb is to the left. Roodiparse,. "Tomb of Xerxes." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 26, 2012. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/140/tomb-of-xerxes/. Marduk, chief god of Babylon to 484 Zoroastrianism – founded by the prophet, Zoroaster (fl. ca 1200 BCE) – monotheistic: Ahura Mazda was the only God –scriptural: Avesta is sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism – major theme: eternal struggle between good & evil – major themes: savior figure & apocalypse (eshcaton) – influenced other West Asian/Middle Eastern religions, e.g. Judaism & Christianity Alexander The Great (d. 323 BCE) Alexander The Great (d. 323 BCE) – from Macedon, which other Greeks considered a backwater or “country” – built on foundation laid by his father Philip II of Macedon – eventually conquered Greece, Anatolia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, & reached India – wanted to create a world culture that borrowed best of all cultures – this vision became something of a reality with the spread of Hellenism  Hellenism – literally means something like “Greekism,” but it’s more than that – includes shared language, ideas, art, architecture – but also includes cultural toleration and adaptability – examples: Greek was spoken from Spain to India; temples in Spain look a lot like temples in Bactria even though the gods are different Alexander's Heirs: Seleucid Empire Alexander's Heirs: Seleucid Empire – proponents of Hellenism – helped spread Greek culture (language, art, & architecture) throughout Persia, Mesopotamia, & Greater Syria – could be a little too aggressive in their Hellenizing  Seleucid Dynasty in Persia (312-64 BCE) Selucus I Nicator (d. 281 BCE) Antiochus III The Great (r. 223- 187 BCE) "Seleucus I Nicator: portrait coin." Online Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 1 Sept. 2008. "Antiochus III: portrait coin." Online Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 1 Sept. 2008 http://search.eb.com/eb/art-8501. Parthian Dynasty (247 BCE-224 CE) (map shows situation in 1st cent. BCE) – gradually chipped away at Seleucids – by 141 BCE they controlled Mesopotamia east of the Euphrates – equals of Roman Empire – one of the great world empires of their age (along with Rome & Han China) The Sassanian Empire The Sassanian Empire (224- 651 CE)* – multi ethnic Persian empire – capital: Ctesiphon – religions: Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Judaism, Manichaeism, Buddhism, & more – main rival: Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantines) The End