persia notes

8/3/2019 Persia Notes

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Persia Notes (ca. 1000 500 BCE):

In the 6th century BCE, the Persians had created the largest empire the world had

yet seen

Relatively little written material from w/in the Persian Empire has survived: we

are forced to view it mostly through the eyes of the ancient, and generally hostile,Greeks we are unaware of some of the central dvpmts affecting the empire

which did not involve Greece

Persian groups & individuals typically are known to the W. world by their Greek

names

Geography:

Iran (Land of the Aryans) is bounded by the Zagros Mts. to the W., the

Caucausus Mts. & Caspian Sea to the NW & N, the mts. of Afghanistan & the

desert of Baluchistan to the E. & SE, and the Persian Gulf to the SW The fundamental topographical features of Iran are high mts. at the edges, salt

deserts in the interior depressions, mt. streams crossing a sloping plateau &

draining into seas or interior salt lakes & marshes harsh envmt w/ limited

H2O sources low pop.

Not much of a farming surplus, but minerals and wood for crafting and trading

Medes & Persians (Indo-Euros) appearing in the region E. of Mesopotamia ca.

1300 BCE, bringing use of iron; they used cuneiform

They conquered or established alliances with all the major pwrs in the area

History:

Cyrus II (his Persian name was Kurush) united the various Persian tribes and

overthrew the Median monarch ca. 550 BCE. He placed both Persians and Medes

in positions of responsibility, & retained the framework of Median rule.

Patriarchal families.

Social divisions: warriors (dominant group), priests (Magi), peasants.

Cyrus: founder of the Persian Empire/legendary, revered king and conqueror

the Babylonians actually welcomed him as their new king without going to battle;

he, in turn, observed their rituals

Cyrus was killed in battle 529 BCE and was succeeded by his son, Cambyses II(Persian: Kambujiya), who was portrayed by the Greeks as a madman, but

modern sources suggest he operated much like his beloved father. He captured

Egypt. Cambyses II died 522 BCE.

Darius I (Persian: Darayavaush) seized the throne 522 BCE. Darius I extended

Persian control eastward as far as the Indus R. V., westward into Europe, bridging

the Danube River. Erected a string of forts in Thrace (modern day N. Greece &

Bulgaria), promoted the dvpmt of maritime routes, completed a canal linking the


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Red Sea to the Nile

o Darius was referred to as the Lawgiver, and was generally favorably

perceived. He created a body of the laws of the King, and a system of

royal judges operating throughout the empire, codified and published the

laws of various subject peoples, allowed each people to live in accordance

with their own traditions and ordinances Darius Is empire was the lgst the world had ever seen at that time.

Darius divided the empire into 20 provinces under the supervision of a satrap, or

governor (who was probably related to the royal family) and held court, a

miniature version of the royal court. This system of administration, which was

hereditary, brought significant numbers of Persians and otr. Peoples from the

center of the empire to the provinces intermarriage, technological exchgs

o One of the satraps most important duties was to collect & send tribute to

the king

Built (4) major capital cities, such as Persepolis

Darius I was succeeded by his son, Xerxes I, aka King Ahasuerus in the famousPurim story

Religion:

Darius believed in, but did not impose, Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism continues

to be practiced today. Its origins are unclear. Not much is known about the

founder, Zoroaster (Persian: Zarathustra) who lived some time between 1700-500

BCE.

Zoroastrianism is believed to have played a great influence on the development of

the Abrahamic faiths.

Zarathustra revealed that the world had been created by Ahuramazda, the good

and wise lord who was opposed by Angra Mainyu, the hostile spirit who was

backed by a host of demons.

Zoroastrians believe in a dualistic universe and a struggle between good and evil;

good is destined to prevail and after a thousands-of-years struggle, the world will

return to the pure state of creation. For now, human beings participate in a

cosmic struggle between good and evil, and will be rewarded or punished in the

afterlife. In short, Zoroastrianism preached belief in one supreme deity, held

humans to a high ethical standard, and promised salvation. Zoroastrianism

promotes belief in God vs. the devil, Heaven & Hell, reward & punishment, a

Messiah, and the End of Time. Zoroastrian beliefs are presented in Gathas (hymns).

Mithra, who was associated with the sun for Persian poytheists and was

incorporated into Zoroastrianism as a Messiah figure. Mithra was a central figure

in Mithraism and Manicheanism, two of the most famous mystery cults that

competed with early Christianity for followers, and which some scholars believe

may have greatly influenced the development of Christianity in its earliest years.


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