Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY Edited Mr. Stonehill - THHS

Classical Western Eurasia 1000 BCE-600 CE Assyrians/Babylonians – (mid 700s- mid 500s BCE) Persian Empire – (mid 500s – mid 300s BCE) – largest empire until that point in history Greek City States – Athens Golden Age – (400s – 300s BCE) – Western Culture “begins” Hellenistic Empires – Alexander the Great and spread of Greek culture (300 BCE-100 CE) – Greece conquers Persia Roman Republic – (500s – 43 BCE) – Rome develops as regional power Roman Empire – (43 BCE – 476 CE) – Roman Dominates Western Eurasian world

The Persian Empire

Questions - Map • Name the different areas within the Persian Empire?

• In which part of Empire has the most territory?

• Which part of the Persian Empire has the most cities?

Cyrus the Great

 A tolerant ruler institutions.

 he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own 580 – 529 B. C. E.

 Creator of Persian Empire and conquers Babylonia  The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.” – created a law code giving equality for all different groups in his empire  The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537 BCE, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine).

Questions • Why was Cyrus the Great truly a Great ruler?

• What makes Babylonia an ideal capital for the Persian Empire?

• Why was being “tolerant” a smart way for Cyrus to rule the Persian Empire?

Darius the Great

(526 – 485 B. C. E.)  Built Persepolis.

 He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)  Built a canal in Egypt connecting Mediterranean to Red Sea

Darius the Great

(526 – 485 B. C. E.) – How to rule an Empire that is too large  Established a tax-collecting system.

 Divided the empire into districts called SATRAPIES.

 Built the great Royal Road system.

 Established a complex postal system.

 Created a network of spies called “the King’s eyes and ears.”

Persian Culture and Inventions • Conquest of Babylonia turns Persia into cultural capital of Ancient World • As empire expands Persia will have 4 capitals eventually – Susa, Babylonia, Ecbatana, and Persepolis • Hanging gardens of Persepolis were considered one of the seven Ancient Wonders of the World • Gardens become an art form

Questions • How did Darius successfully rule over such a large Empire?

• How does creating Persepolis help Darius?

• How does Darius’ canal help the Empire?

• How does a bureaucracy help Darius rule?

Ancient Persepolis – architectural wonder

Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

Persian “Royal Road” – how to connect a large empire

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE : Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words “Tree of Life”

Extent of Zoroastrianism – notice focus to the East

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Ahura Mazda “Holy Spirit” Ahriman “Destructive Spirit”

Zend-Avesta

(The “Book of Law”) The “Sacred Fire”  the force to fight evil.

Questions • Is Zoroastrianism a “monotheistic” religion? Why/Why not • Define “Gnostic”.