Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire900-612 BCE900-612 BCE

Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire900-612 BCE900-612 BCE

• By 800 BCE had conquered much of Tigris-Euphrates region

• Great talent in military affairs– Army was large, seemingly invincible– Horse and chariot were chief force in warfare– Used tightly-knit infantry formations– Also experts in siege warfare

• Perhaps the most hated conquerors in ancient history

• Empire reached from upper Tigris to central Egypt• Conquered peoples finally united, overthrew

Assyrians• Had sophisticated appreciation for all art forms

PhoeniciansPhoenicians

• Lived along coastal strip (now Lebanon)• Great colonists, traders in luxury wares• Spread art of iron making• Established colonies throughout western

Mediterranean• Most notable contribution was phonetic

alphabet, about 1000 BCE– System of 22 marks– Definite advance – simplicity, accessibility– Greeks later added signs for vowels

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

Persians Persians 500 BCE – 500 CE500 BCE – 500 CE

• Most powerful of peoples of western Asia– Indo-European language– Highly skilled cavalry– Eventually became sedentary

• Persian Empire– Cyrus the Great

•United Persians in mid-sixth century BCE•Extended domain from India to Mediterranean,

Arabia to lower Nile Valley•Main cities were in Iran, not Mesopotamia

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great

580 – 529 B. C. E.

580 – 529 B. C. E.

A tolerant ruler he allowed different cultures within his empire to keep their own institutions and customs

His government was umbrella sheltering many different people

Local authorities stayed in powerReligion was totally free

The Greeks called him a “Law-Giver.”

The Jews called him “the anointed of the Lord.” (In 537, he allowed over 40,000 to return to Palestine).

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) 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.)

During his reign, empire reached largest size

Built a canal in Egypt.

Uniform coinage, calendar

Advanced law code

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C. E.) 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.”

Ancient PersepolisAncient Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

The People of Persepolis

Persian “Royal Road”Persian “Royal Road”

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:

Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

Zarathustra [Zoroaster], 6c BCE:

Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words

“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Extent of Zoroastrianism

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Dualistic Battle of Good vs. Evil

Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”Ahura Mazda“Holy Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Ahriman“Destructive

Spirit”

Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)Zend-Avesta(The “Book of Law”)

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.

The “Sacred Fire” the force to fight evil.