The Rise and Fall of the

PERSIAN EMPIRE
TM

“Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks”

- Herodotus
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Cariño, Shiela Mae
ABOUT Gaña, Nathaniel Jay
CREDITS Lagitnay, Jondelle Kirby Y.
 OVERVIEW
• The Rise of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great.

• Expansion of the Empire in the east and west under Cyrus,

Cambyses and Darius the Great.

• Achaemenid Power began to fall due to conflict with the Greeks.

• The Achaemenid Empire fell when it was conquered by Alexander

the Great.

FIGHT
LOADING…
Who were the Persians?
• The Genomic Formation of South and Central Asia
- 3 Broad groups:
South Asian Hunter Gatherers
Iranian Agriculturists
Steppe Pastoralists (ARYANS)

• Aryan Migration Theory (1,000 B.C.E.)

• Kurgan Hypothesis (Indo-European Expansion) 4,000-

1000 B.C.E.
Before Persia, there was…

Median Empire
Before Persia, there was…

Median Empire
Median Empire
• 678-549 B.C.E
• Capital: Ecbatana
• Monarchial Government
• Preceded by the Neo-
Assyrian Empire and Urartu
• Last King was Astyages
Somewhere…
CYRUS II “THE GREAT” and the
ACHAEMENID EMPIRE
 PERSIAN/ACHAEMENID
EMPIRE

• 550 – 330 B.C.E. • Language is Farsi (Persian)

• North Western India to Western Anatolia • Persis, Parsa or Pars/Fars

and Egypt

• Modern Day Iran – “Land of the Aryans” • A mere region/subkingdom of Media

 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”

• 590-580 to 529 B.C.E. • City of Pasargadae/Pasargada

• As new ruler, not everyone accepted him • Known for his leadership and
and paid tribute governance specifically, religious
tolerance within the empire
• Successful military commander and
follower of Zoroastrianism
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

PERSIA VS MEDIA
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

The City of Pasargada/Pasargadae

Cyrus named his empire the “Achaemenid Empire”

PERSIA VS MEDIA
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

PERSIA VS LYDIA

PERSIA VS MEDIA
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

Lydian Capital – Sardis fell

PERSIA VS LYDIA New enemies: Babylonians and

Egyptians
PERSIA VS MEDIA
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

PERSIA VS LYDIA

PERSIA VS MEDIA PERSIA VS NEO-BABYLON

 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

PERSIA VS NEO-BABYLON
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

Babylonian defeat at Opis, east of Tigris

Conquered Babylon
Released Jews from captivity
PERSIA VS NEO-BABYLON
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

PERSIA VS NEO-BABYLON
 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

PERSIA VS LYDIA

PERSIA VS MEDIA PERSIA VS NEO-BABYLON

 CYRUS II “THE GREAT”
Rise of the Achaemenid Empire

PERSIA VS LYDIA CAMBYSES I

PERSIA VS MEDIA PERSIA VS NEO-BABYLON

CAMBYSES I

• Battle of Pelusium

• AMASIS

• Egyptian Princess

• Pharoah Psametik III

DARIUS I “The Great”
• A successful General

• Claimed to be descendant of Achaemenes

• Many doubted him

• Sole ruler of Persia

ACHAEMENID GOVERNMENT
During Darius I “The Great”
SATRAPY
ACHAEMENID GOVERNMENT
During Darius I “The Great”
SATRAPY
ACHAEMENID GOVERNMENT
During Darius I “The Great”
ACHAEMENID GOVERNMENT
During Darius I “The Great”

APPOINTED
ACHAEMENID GOVERNMENT
During Darius I “The Great”

SHAHANSHAH
ACHAEMENID GOVERNMENT
During Darius I “The Great”

• Transactions

• Taxes

• Tributes
PERSEPOLIS
“CITY OF PERSIANS”
THE ROYAL ROAD
BEHISTUN/BEHISTON
Ionian Revolt
Fueled by:

• Tyranny
• Too much tributes
• Economic crisis in asia
• Pride
• Fear
• Greed
Ionian Revolt
• 500-494 B.C.E.

• Ionian Greek City States decided

to revolt against the
Achaemenid Empire

• Precedent of the Greco-Persian

Wars

• Instigated by Aristgoras
• Cycladic Island of
NAXOS

• Aristagoras

• Histiaios

• Artaphernes

• Megabates

• Island of Chios
• Megabates versus
Aristogares

• Megabates’ betrayal

• Aristogares feared
punishment

• Message by Scalp
tattoo

• Start of Revolt
• Aristogares – Leader
of the Revolution

• Ionians banished pro-

Persian leaders

• Ionians needed
military help

• Sparta refused

• Athens and Eretria

helped
• Went to Miletus and
marched to Sardis

• Pillaged and burned

Sardis

• Artaphernes VS
Greeks

• Retreat to Ephesus

• Pythagoras and
Miletus
• Aristagoras fled to
Thrace and was killed

• Battle of Lade

• Ionians were
outnumbered

• Histiaios was captured

and killed

• Miletus fell
• End of Ionian Revolt
XERXES I “The Great”
• 519 – 465 B.C.E

• Persian King from 486 – 465 B.C.E.

• Son of Darius I “The Great” and younger

brother of Artabazanes

• Best known for the Greco-Persian Wars

I choose you!
• Darius preferred Xerxes more than Artabazanes to be his heir
apparent

• Bas-relief on the southern portico of a courtyard in the treasury of

Persepolis, depict him as the heir apparent, standing behind his
father, who is seated on the throne.
I choose you!
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

PERSIA VS GREECE
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

Mardonius’ War Mongering

Prepared 3 years for an attack
Royal Absolutism
PERSIA VS GREECE
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF MARATHON

PERSIA VS GREECE

Darius I “The Great”

 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

Greek surprise attack

BATTLE OF MARATHON Ran back quickly to Athens,

hence the name “Marathon”
PERSIA VS GREECE
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF MARATHON

PERSIA VS GREECE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE

Xerxes I “The Great”

 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

Leonidas and 300 Spartans

Greek traitor “Ephialtes”
Naval Force in Artemisium was defeated
BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF MARATHON

PERSIA VS GREECE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE

 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF MARATHON BATTLE OF SALAMIS

PERSIA VS GREECE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE

 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF SALAMIS
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

Narrow pass of Salamis

BATTLE OF SALAMIS
Greek Triremes VS Persian Ships
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF SALAMIS
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF SALAMIS

BATTLE OF PLATAEA
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

Xerxes I retreated back to Persia

BATTLE OF SALAMIS
Mardonius was killed and Persia was
defeated
BATTLE OF PLATAEA
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF SALAMIS

BATTLE OF PLATAEA
 XERXES I “THE GREAT”
Decline of Achaemenid Power

BATTLE OF MARATHON BATTLE OF SALAMIS

PERSIA VS GREECE BATTLE OF THERMOPYLAE BATTLE OF PLATAEA

 Xerxes’ Withdrawal to Persia

• Xerxes retired to Susa and Persepolis.

• He depleted the once-enormous resources he had gathered, through

multiple taxation, by launching a vast construction program.

• Gigantic terrace of the Apadana (an audience hall) and the Tripylon.
 Xerxes’ Withdrawal to Persia
• Hall of a Hundred Columns, or Throne Room, but he was able to finish only the
paving and the base of the walls.

• Little is known about the last years of Xerxes’ life.

• In 465 BCE he himself fell, together with his eldest son, under the blows of
murderous members of his court, among them his minister Artabanus.
 Xerxes’ Withdrawal to Persia
• Hall of a Hundred Columns, or Throne Room, but he was able to finish only the
paving and the base of the walls.

• Little is known about the last years of Xerxes’ life.

• In 465 BCE he himself fell, together with his eldest son, under the blows of
murderous members of his court, among them his minister Artabanus.
 Xerxes’ Withdrawal to Persia
• Hall of a Hundred Columns, or Throne Room, but he was able to finish only the
paving and the base of the walls.

• Little is known about the last years of Xerxes’ life.

• In 465 BCE he himself fell, together with his eldest son, under the blows of
murderous members of his court, among them his minister Artabanus.
 Xerxes’ Withdrawal to Persia
• Hall of a Hundred Columns, or Throne Room, but he was able to finish only the
paving and the base of the walls.

• Little is known about the last years of Xerxes’ life.

• In 465 BCE he himself fell, together with his eldest son, under the blows of
murderous members of his court, among them his minister Artabanus.
 Xerxes’ Withdrawal to Persia
• Hall of a Hundred Columns, or Throne Room, but he was able to finish only the
paving and the base of the walls.

• Little is known about the last years of Xerxes’ life.

• In 465 BCE he himself fell, together with his eldest son, under the blows of
murderous members of his court, among them his minister Artabanus.
ARTAXERXES I
 ARTAXERXES I

• 465-425 B.C.E.

• Surnamed in Greek Macrocheir – “Longhand”, Latin – “Longimanus”

• Raised to the throne by Artabanus, who killed his father Xerxes I

• Artaxerxes slew Artabanus months later in hand-to-hand combat

 ARTAXERXES I

• A rebellion in Egypt under Inaros, who received assistance from the

Athenians

• Achaemenid rule in Egypt was restored by Megabyzus, Satrap of Syria

• 448 B.C.E. – conflict between Persia and Athens ended

DARIUS II “OCHUS”
 DARIUS II “OCHUS”

• 423-404 B.C.E.

• Son of Artaxerxes I by a concubine

• Seized the throne from his half brother Secydianus (Sogdianus)

• Previous satrap of Hyrcania

 DARIUS II “OCHUS”

• Adopted the name “Darius” in his accession

• Also called “Nothus” (From Greek Nothos meaning bastard)

• Darius’ court was dominated by eunuchs (chamberlains)

• Dominated Parysatis
 DARIUS II “OCHUS”
• After the Athenian defeat at Syracuse in 413 B.C.E., Darius decided to recover
the Greek coastal cities of Asia Minor

• An alliance against Athens was formed with Sparta

• In 407, Darius decided to put all his resources behind Sparta.

 DARIUS II “OCHUS”
• As a result, Athenian power was broken in 405 B.C.E Aegospotami

• Darius died of an illness.

Persian Culture
Persian Culture
• Persians created art in many forms, including metalwork, rock carvings,
weaving and architecture.
Persian Culture
• Persians created art in many forms, including metalwork, rock carvings,
weaving and architecture.
Persian Culture
• Persians created art in many forms, including metalwork, rock carvings,
weaving and architecture.
Persian Culture
• Persians created art in many forms, including metalwork, rock carvings,
weaving and architecture.
Persian Culture
• Early Persian art included large, carved rock reliefs cut into cliffs, such as
those found at Naqsh-e Rustam.
Persian Culture
• Ancient Persians were also known for their metalwork. In the 1870s,
smugglers discovered gold and silver artifacts among ruins near the Oxus
River in present-day Tajikistan.
Persian Culture
• The artifacts included a small golden chariot, coins, and bracelets decorated
in a griffon motif.
Persian Culture
• The artifacts included a small golden chariot, coins, and bracelets decorated
in a griffon motif.
Persian Culture
• The history of carpet weaving in Persia dates back to the nomadic tribes.
PERSIAN SOCIAL HIERARCHY
PERSIAN SOCIAL HIERARCHY
PERSIAN SOCIAL HIERARCHY
ZOROASTRIANISM
• Monotheist

• Avesta

• Fire along with water

(Fire temple)

• Prophet Zoroaster
ZOROASTRIANISM
Sky Burial/Dakhmas
DUALISM
ZOROASTER’S VISION
AMESHA SPENTAS
• VOHU MANAH • KHASHATHRA VAIRYA

• ASHA VAHISHTA • HAURAVATAT

• SPENTA AMERAITI • AMERETAT

AFTER LIFE OF ZOROASTER
• MAIDHYOIMANHA

• EVERYONE WAS AGAINST HIS IDEAS

• COUNTRY IN BACTRIA (KING VISHTAPA)

• DIED AT 70
 ZOROASTRIANISM AND PERSIA
• Ancient Persian Religion • Iran-India

• 4000 y.a • Parsis

• Cyrus the Great followed Asha • Helped shaped Abrahamic

Religions
• The most prevalent religion in
Persia before conquest by
Muslims
GOOD THOUGHTS, GOOD
WORDS, GOOD DEEDS