1. The
Persian
Empire

2. The Persian Empire

3. Cyrus the Great
580 – 529 B. C. E.

4. Cyrus the Great
 A tolerant ruler  he
allowed different
cultures within his
empire to keep their own
institutions.
580 – 529 B. C. E.

5. Cyrus the Great
 A tolerant ruler  he
allowed different
cultures within his
empire to keep their own
institutions.
 The Greeks called him a
“Law-Giver.”
580 – 529 B. C. E.

6. Cyrus the Great
 A tolerant ruler  he
allowed different
cultures within his
empire to keep their own
institutions.
 The Greeks called him a
“Law-Giver.”
 The Jews called him
“the anointed of the
Lord.” (In 537, he allowed
580 – 529 B. C. E. over 40,000 to return to
Palestine).

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

8. Darius the Great
(526 – 485 B. C. E.)
 Built Persepolis.

9. 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.)

10. 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.

11. Darius the Great

12. Darius the Great
 Established a tax-collecting
system.

13. Darius the Great
 Established a tax-collecting
system.
 Divided the empire into
districts called SATRAPIES.

14. Darius the Great
 Established a tax-collecting
system.
 Divided the empire into
districts called SATRAPIES.
 Built the great Royal Road
system.

15. Darius the Great
 Established a tax-collecting
system.
 Divided the empire into
districts called SATRAPIES.
 Built the great Royal Road
system.
 Established a complex
postal system.

16. Darius the Great
 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.”

17. Ancient Persepolis

18. Persepolis

19. The People of Persepolis

20. Persian “Royal Road”

21. Persian Archers &
Soldiers

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

23. Extent of
Zoroastrianism

24. Dualistic Battle of
Good vs. Evil
Ahura Mazda Ahriman
“Holy Spirit” “Destructive
Spirit”

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

26. The Fall...
I. Xerxes’ policies
II. Persian Wars (500-479 BCE)
III. Alexander of Macedon (Great)
IV. Seleucids, Parthians, Sasanids
V. Incorported into the Islamic empire
(651 CE)
15

27. The Essential Question...
What were the strategies used by
Persian empire rulers that allowed it to
be so durable?