Chapter 4 Section 3

8th Grade World History

Mrs. Thompson

The Persian Empire united a wide area under a single government.

The people of Persia were nomads warriors and lived in what is today southwestern Iran.

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

He allowed different cultures within his

empire to keep their own

institutions.

He allowed different cultures within his

empire to keep their own

institutions.

The Rise of the Persian Empire

He captured Babylon in 539 B.C. as well as Mesopotamia,

Asia Minor,Syria, Canaan, Phoenician cities to unite Persians

under powerful kingdom.

Cyrus the Great:Cyrus the Great:

Tomb of Cyrus the

Great

LeadersAfter Cyrus:

Conquered Egypt,

western India, and Thrace

(region ofnortheast Greece). Built roads to

connect the empire.The Royal Road stretched from

Asia Minorto Susa

(the first capital).

Persian “Royal Road”Persian “Royal Road”

Darius the Great Darius the Great

He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)

Built a canal in Egypt.

Built Persepolis.

He extended the Persian Empire to the Indus River in northern India. (2 mil. s.q. mi.)

Built a canal in Egypt.

Built Persepolis.

Darius came to the

throne in 521 B.C.

Darius paid people to be in

the army (unlike the

Greeks)

A group of 10,000

soldiers called the Immortals protected the

king.

Darius divided the empire into 20 provinces call satrapies.

Each was ruled by a

satrap, meaning

“protector of the kingdom.”

    Satraps acted as judge,

police, and recruiter for

army.

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C.)

Darius the Great (526 – 485 B. C.) Established a tax-collecting

system.

Established a complex postal

system.

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

Established a tax-collecting system.

Established a complex postal

system.

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

“Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words”

“Good Thoughts, Good Deed, Good Words”

Persian religion was Zoroastrianism

The founder was Zoroaster who

was born 660 B.C.

Zoroaster taught free will of humans

and recognized evil force in the world.

Extent of ZoroastrianismExtent of Zoroastrianism

It was a monotheistic religion that taught of one supreme creator.

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”

“Tree of Life”“Tree of Life”

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.

Both Sparta and Athens played roles in defeating the Persians.By the mid-500s B.C.

Persia controlled Greek cities in Asia Minor.

Persian Wars: 499 BCE – 480 BCPersian Wars: 499 BCE – 480 BC

In 499 B.C., the Athenians helped Greeks in Asia Minor to rebel but

failed.

Battle of Marathon

Battle of Marathon

Persians decided to go south and attack Athens directly, so he ordered the cavalry back.

Pheidippides was sent to Athens with the news and ran 25 miles from Marathon.

Greeks charged the field and easily defeated the Persian soldiers standing in the water.

When he got there, he collapsed and with his final breath announced “Victory.”

In 490 B.C. 20,000 Persians landed on plain of Marathon.

The Athenians only had 10,000 soldiers.

1.

4.3.

2.

Xerxes took Persian

throne in 486 B.C. after

Darius.

He launched attack on Greece

with 180,000 soldiers in

480 B.C.

Sparta sent most solders with Sparta sent most solders with King King Leonidas Leonidas as commander.as commander.

The Greeks decided best place to stall the Persians was at

Thermopylae

Athens supplied the Athens supplied the navy navy with with Athenian general Athenian general ThemistoclesThemistocles drawing up the plan of attackdrawing up the plan of attack..

They cut off food and

supplies to the Persian Army.

AA traitortraitor told Persians of a told Persians of a mountain path around Greeks to mountain path around Greeks to

mount a rear attack.mount a rear attack.

They fought to the death in They fought to the death in order to giveorder to give AthensAthens enough enough time to assembletime to assemble 200200 ships.ships.

LeonidasLeonidas sent most troops to sent most troops to safety, but he and a few safety, but he and a few

hundred others stayed behindhundred others stayed behind..

The Greeks United

Thermopylae was a Thermopylae was a narrow pass narrow pass through the through the

mountains that was mountains that was easy to defend.easy to defend.

http://www.history.com/videos/battle-of-thermopylae-unfolds#kill-zone-battle-of-thermopylae

http://www.history.com/topics/greco-persian-wars/videos#battle-of-thermopylae-king-xerxes-master-plan

Greek fleet attacked Persians in the strait of Salamis

A strait is a narrow

strip of water between two pieces of land.

The smaller and faster

Greek ships easily destroyed the Persian fleet.

Persian army marched on and

burned Athens after Greeks had fled.

http://www.classzone.com/cz/books/ms_wh_survey/resources/html/animations/wh07_persian_wars.html

Persian Archers & Soldiers

Persian Archers & Soldiers

The Greeks assembled

largest army ever in

Greece with better training

and armor.

The Greeks crushed the

Persians at Platea,

northwest of Athens.

RESULT: It was a

turning point for the Greeks

because the Persians

retreated and city-states

were saved.

What Caused the Persian Empire to Fall?

By By 300 B.C300 B.C., the last Persian king was dead ., the last Persian king was dead and and Alexander the GreatAlexander the Great ruled over all his ruled over all his

lands.lands.

The results were …

So this happened …

Then this happened …

And that led to this …

The Greeks helped The Greeks helped weakenweaken the the empire which already had internal empire which already had internal

problems.problems.

After After DariusDarius and and XerxesXerxes, rulers , rulers increased taxes to build luxurious increased taxes to build luxurious

palacespalaces..

High taxesHigh taxes caused rebellion caused rebellion..

Started with …

The royal family fought over who would be king. The royal family fought over who would be king.

Six Six of nine rulers after Darius were of nine rulers after Darius were murderedmurdered..

Ancient PersepolisAncient Persepolis

PersepolisPersepolis

The People of PersepolisThe People of Persepolis