Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Main Idea
The Persians formed one of
the largest and best governed
empires in the ancient world
and made great cultural
achievements.
Focus Questions
Focus Questions
• Who shaped the growth and organization
of the Persian Empire?
• What were the most significant Persian
achievements?
• How did Darius balance the problems of
governing a huge empire?
Growth and Organization
Persia under the Medes Cyrus the Great
• Both Indo-European • Defeated Medes in 559 BC
tribes • Founded and enlarged
• Medes conquered Persian Empire
Persians • Freed Jews in Babylon
• Persians allowed to keep • Respected by those he
their own leaders as long conquered
as they Darius
did not rebel Persia in Decline
• Enlarged Empire to • Rule of Darius high point
Greatest size of Persian culture
• Strengthened army, • Son, Xerxes, failed to
empire conquer Greece, last
• Built Royal Road strong ruler
• Created satraps to help • Persia conquered by
Darius
• Governing such a far-flung empire
would prove to be a more difficult
challenge than conquering it
• Darius was an excellent administrator
• He arrived at a finely tuned balance
between central initiative and local
administration
• Centralization
– Authority
– Persepolis
– Royal Road
– Standardized taxes
• Localization
– Satraps
– Tolerance
Centralization: Authority
• Persian rulers held the official title of
“The Great King, King of Kings, King of
Persia, King of Countries”
• King’s decision on all matters of policy
was final
• King was commander-in-chief of the
army and ceremoniously took his
position in the center of the formation
Centralization: Persepolis