Alexander the

Great and
Ancient Persia
the rise and fall of
empires
what does it mean to be great?
 Aryan
A group of people thought
to have migrated to the
region of ancient Iran and
northern Indian
sub-continent.
Ariana or Iran the “land of
the Aryans”.
Meaning “noble”,
“civilized” or “free man”
from Avestan
Think of a time in
history when something
was taken and twisted.

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Religion
Developed around 3000 bce, and
was influenced by the people
already there.

Polytheistic, had a large pantheon

of gods. Ruled by Ahura Mazda
and was who peopled were
supposed to follow to reject the
temptations and traps of Angra
Mainyu
“THE GODS WERE WORSHIPPED AT OUTDOOR
SHRINES KNOWN AS FIRE TEMPLES – ALTARS
ON WHICH THE FIRE OF THE GOD WAS ALWAYS
KEPT LIGHT.”
What are some
similarities or
differences between
Mesopotamian and
ancient Persian
religion?
Zoroaster
Zarathustra (628-551
bce) was a Persian Priest
turned prophet who
founded Zoroastrianism.
Originally a priest of the
Early Iranian Religion
(polytheistic), before
converting to a
monotheistic one.
Zoroastrianism
The first monotheistic
religion and follows one
supreme deity Ahura
Mazda.

Developed from the

polytheistic ancient
Persian religion.

Both saw life as a

struggle between the
forces of light and
goodness and those of
darkness and evil
 The Vision
1. The supreme god is Ahura
Mazda
2. Ahura Mazda is all-good
3. His eternal opponent, Angra
Mainyu, is all-evil
4. Goodness is apparent through
good thoughts, good words and
good deeds
5. Each individual has free will to
choose between good and evil
 Why do you think
religions change?
 ❖ The King (Shah) and the Royal
family
❖ The priests (magi)
❖ Nobles (aristocrats and

Culture ❖
satraps)
Military commanders and elite
forces
There was a social hierarchy, ❖ Merchants
and within the different ❖ Artisans and tradesmen
classes they were more ❖ Peasants
hierarchies. ❖ Slaves
Culture pt. 2
❖ Men and women often worked the same jobs
❖ Women were highly respected
➢ Supervisors
➢ Arashshara (great chief)
➢ Artisans and tradespeople
➢ Military
❖ Equal pay
➢ Unless it was a pregnant woman or one who recently gave birth, then they received high pay
➢ Those who gave birth to sons were rewarded with extra rations for a month
❖ Women could own land and have their own businesses
“the Persians adopt more foreign
customs than anyone else”
- Herodotus
Can you think of
another similar culture
to the persians?

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Cyrus the Great
A persian king that lived
from 590-529 bce, and
was originally known as
Cyrus II.
Conquest, tolerance and
mercy.
Controlled the Iranian
tribes.
Remember the EQ,
why do you think
Cyrus was given the
name “the Great”?
 Darius I
550-486 bce. Took the
throne from Bardiya son
of Cyrus the Great, he
called him an “impostor
who usurped the throne”.
Conquests, building
projects and
administrative genius
Xerxes I
Son of Darius I (519 -
465 bce) and originally a
governor of Babylon
before his ascension.

Conquests, building
projects and the
beginning of the decline.
Macedon
❖ a monarchy
❖ “backwards” and “primitive”
❖ only good for pastoral land and timber
❖ spoke greek dialect
❖ the royal family could trace their roots back to the Isle of Argos and Heracles.
Philip II
King of Macedon (383 -
336 bce) and formed all
of Greece into the
League of Corinth.

Improved military and

borders, formed
leagues.

One-eyed.
Alexander the
Great
Alexander III son of Philip
and king of the Macedons
(356-323).
Conquered most of the
known world of his day.
The Greatest Speech in History? Alexander the Great & The
Opis Mutiny
Why was Alexander so
great? How was he
different from the other
“great” kings?

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