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Civilizations of the Bible

The World of Esther,

Ezra, and Nehemiah

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Imperial Predecessors

AssyrianEmpire

Chaldean

Empire

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Who are these people?

Indo-European Aryanssettle near Elam, c. 1500 B.C.

pastoralists

caste systemMedes

Media

Ecbatana

Persians Persis or Fars

Farsi

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What did they believe?

ZoroastrianismZoroaster, c. 628-551 B.C.

Avesta, compiled c. A.D. 500

AhuramazdaAhriman

Individual responsibility

the bridge of decision

Last Judgment

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Who built the Empire?

Cyrus II, the Great,

r. 559530 B.C.

occupied Elam, c. 558 B.C.

rebuilt Susa (or Shusan)

conquered the Medes, c. 550 B. C.

Achaemenid Dynasty

Shahanshah

foretold by prophetsThis is what the LORD says... who says of

Cyrus, He is my shepherd and will

accomplish all that I please. [Is. 44:24, 28]

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Persia Rising

Cyrus II, the Great, r. 559 530 B.C.

conquered Kingdom of Lydia, c. 547 B.C. Croesus

conquered Ionian city-states, c. 543 B.C.

conquered Chaldean Empire, 539 B.C.

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The Persian Empire, c. 550-331 B.C.

Empire by Toleration

This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the

kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build

a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his

people among youmay the LORD his God be with

him, and let him go up. II Chronicles 36:23, cf. Ezra 1:2-4

Return of the Jewish Exiles, c. 536 B.C.

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The Persian Empire, c. 550-331 B.C.

Cyrus II, the Great, r. 559 530 B.C.new capital at Pasargadae

campaign against the Scythians

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Mighty Kings; Kings of the Four

Corners of the Earth

Cambyses II, r. 530522 B.C.

conquered Egypt

Darius I, the Great r. 521486 B.C.

Formalized the policy of toleration

Encouragement of unity

Imperial Aramaic developed

law code, postal system, standardization

Administrative reform Satrapies

Eyes and Ears of the King

new capital at Persepolis

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Governing the Empire

Revived Economy

DaricEfficient Communications

royal road from Sardis to Susa

Hybrid Military

Ten-Thousand Immortals

regular garrison units

local levies

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Expansion of Persian Power

Darius I, the Great r. 521 486 B.C.

pushed into Western India, c. 515 B.C.

campaigned against Scythians, c. 513 B.C.

Ionian city-states revolted, 499 B.C.

attempted invasion of Greece, 490 B.C.

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The Persian Empire of Darius I

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The Limits of Persian Power

Xerxes I, r. 486465 B.C.suppression of revolts in

Egypt and Babylon, 484 B.C.

invasion of Greece, 480 B.C.

domestic intrigues after 478

B.C.

probable Ahasuerus of Esther

Mardukha = Mordecai

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The Limits of Persian Power

Artaxerxes I, r. 464424 B.C.local opposition to Imperial Edicts [Ezra 4-6]

Ezra commissioned, c. 458 B.C. [Ezra 7]

Nehemiah dispatched, c. 445 B.C. [Neh. 1-2]

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The Persian Empire, c. 500 B.C.