Rise of New Empires

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The Rise of New Empires

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(pages 61–62)(pages 61–62)

The Assyrians of the upper Tigris River formed the Assyrian Empire by 700 B.C.

They were known for their military prowess. Their military power came from using iron

and a large, well-disciplined army of infantry, cavalry, and archers, often on chariots.

They also used terror to subdue people, laying waste to people’s lands and torturing captives.

The Assyrian Empire

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The Assyrian Empire (cont.) A king with absolute power ruled the

Assyrian Empire.

The empire was organized well with local officials directly responsible to the king.

The Assyrians developed an efficient communication system in order to administer their empire.

They set up a network of posts with horses carrying messages.

It was said that a message could go from a governor anywhere in the empire to the king and be answered back in one week.

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The Assyrian king Ashurbanipal founded one of the world’s first libraries.

This library has provided a great deal of information about Southwest Asian civilizations.

The Assyrian Empire (cont.)

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(pages 62–64)(pages 62–64)

After the Assyrian Empire collapsed, the Chaldean king Nebuchadnezzar made Babylonia the leading state of western Asia.

Babylon became one of the greatest cities of the ancient world. Babylonia did not last long; the Persians conquered it in 539 B.C.

The Persian Empire

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The Persian Empire (cont.) The Persians were a nomadic, Indo-

European people living in what is today southwest Iran.

One family unified the different groups. One member, Cyrus, created a powerful

Persian state from Asia Minor to western India.

Cyrus ruled from 559 to 530 B.C. He captured Babylon, treating his new

subjects with noteworthy restraint, and he allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

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His sons extended the Persian Empire.

Cambyses successfully invaded Egypt.

Darius (521–486 B.C.) extended the empire into India and Europe.

He created the largest empire the world had known.

Darius strengthened the Persian government by dividing the empire into 20 provinces, called satrapies.

A governor, or satrap (“protector of the kingdom”), collected taxes, handled legal matters, and recruited soldiers.

The Persian Empire (cont.)

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The Persians established a communication system using horses and way stations along the Royal Road, from Lydia to the empire’s chief capital at Susa.

Much of the Persian Empire’s power was due to its military.

The Persian kings had a standing army of professional soldiers from all over the empire.

At its core was an elite group called the Immortals because anyone who was killed was immediately replaced.

The Persian Empire (cont.)

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The Immortals were made up of ten thousand cavalry and ten thousand infantry.

The Persian Empire declined for a set of reasons common to the decline of empires.

The kings became more isolated at court and lived lives of tremendous luxury.

They levied high taxes that weakened the people’s loyalty.

The Persian Empire (cont.)

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At the same time, factions were struggling for control of the throne.

Of the nine rulers after Darius, six were murdered in plots.

These bloody struggles weakened the Persian monarchy (rule by a king or queen), and Alexander the Great conquered Persia during the 330s B.C.

The Persian Empire (cont.)

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The most original Persian cultural contribution was its religion of Zoroastrianism.

Persian tradition says that Zoroaster was born in 660 B.C.

He had visions that caused him to be declared a prophet.

His teachings were written in the sacred book of Zoroastrianism, the Zend Avesta.

The Persian Empire (cont.)

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Zoroaster taught monotheism. To Zoroaster, the universe was permeated by

the good of the supreme god Ahuramazda, who brought all into being.

There was an evil spirit named Ahriman, however.

People had free will to choose between the two, but eventually, good would triumph over evil.

In the last judgment at the end of the world, good and evil would separate.

The Persian Empire (cont.)

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