The Persians

Cyrus the Great

In the mid-sixth century BCE, the Median Empire controlled a large territory adjacent to the Mesopotamian region. In the 650s BCE, a smaller region of the Median Empire called Pars came under the rule of Cyrus II, or “Cyrus the Great,” who successfully led a Image result for persian empire under cyrus the great rebellion against his grandfather-in-law Astyages, the Median king and established the Persian or Achaemenid Empire, named after Cyrus’ ancestor Achaemenes. In 539 BCE, following the fall of the Medians, Cyrus II conquered Babylonia, leading to the resettlement of the Jews in Jerusalem after their forced detention in Babylonia, granting him much praise in biblical accounts. Under the rule of Cyrus II, the Achaemenid Empire came span all the way from central Asia to what is now modern-day Turkey. Under his rule, the Middle East flourished. While Cyrus himself practiced Zoroastrianism, he

The Cyrus Cylinder

became well known for employing religious tolerance and even incorporated aspects of other religions into his methods of governing certain regions in order to appease the people who lived there. For example, upon conquering Mesopotamia, Cyrus the Great claimed to have been appointed by the Babylonian god Marduk to rule and restore the Babylonian religion after the neglect of the previous king according to an artifact known as the Cyrus Cylinder. He also allowed the territories to continue to maintain their own governments so long as they paid taxes, pledged their loyalty to the king, and obeyed the his appointed satraps, or governors.

Cambyses II

Following Cyrus II’s death in battle, his son Cambyses II claimed the throne. Further expanding the empire, Cambyses successfully captured Egypt and named himself pharaoh. His reign was troubled as he dealt first with an Egyptian rebellion, which he successfully put down, and then a rebellion in his homeland of what is now modern-day Iran, but he died attempting return and quell it. The Iranian rebels appointed a man named Gaumata as king, but he was quickly displaced due to the efforts of Persian nobles, who elected a man name Darius ascend the throne.

Darius the Great

Being only distantly related to Cyrus and Cambyses, Darius’ reign was frequently challenged during the early years of his rule. Upon quelling a series of rebellions, he was able to successfully stabilize the empire and stretch its borders even further into India and Europe. He also annexed Thrace and Macedonia and gained control over the Image result for darius the great Ionian Greeks in Anatolia, which would later result in conflict between the two. Darius made significant reforms to the structure of the empire, including creating the empire’s first centralized standing army, using a complex system of checks and balances to keep the satraps in check, and regulating tributes. He also improved the empire’s infrastructure and encouraged trade and communication by building new series of roads to connect the different regions of the empire and introducing a new currency. The Persians also built canals and waterways and standardized methods measurement.

Fall of the Persian Empire

Following the rule of Darius the Great, the politics of the Persian Empire became increasingly unstable and Achaemenid power began to falter due to uprisings and the increasing self-indulgence of the Persian kings. The decadence and lack of oversight following Darius’ rule caused the strength of the great empire to crumble and give way to new powers that divided the once united state. During this critical stage of instability in the Persian Empire, Alexander III, king of the Macedonians, invaded the Persian Empire in 334 BCE, swiftly taking control of the territories long held under Persian control and bringing the Achaemenid Empire to an end.

The Persian Legacy

The Persian’s unifying rule of many varied regions and their tolerance for other peoples led to great exchanges and collaborations of culture , likely resulting in incredible art and technology. Unfortunately, however, much of the Persian’s legacy has been lost, and what little we know about them comes from the accounts of Greeks who interacted with them. The original Persians have left few physical marks on this world due to the ravages of time and war, but what remains provides us with a glimpse of how incredible their empire must have been. The ceremonial capital of Persepolis, built during the reign of Darius the Great, is an incredible and monumental example of the might and splendor the Persians once laid claim to, featuring intricated carving, complex planning, and architecture of awesome proportions, all of which tell us the true gravity of what has been lost.

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