Cyrus I
Cyrus I, or known better as Cyrus the Great, played a key role in launching the reign of the Persian Empire back in 550 BCE. As an exceptional military strategist, he managed to conquer many of his rivals in a surprisingly short amount of time. He would've mounted a campaign against his powerful neighbor Egypt if he hadn't been killed protecting his lands from raiders.
Cambyses
Cambyses was the successor to Cyrus the Great after his demise. Not much is known about this emperor, save the fact that he did what his father Cyrus was not able to do: conquer Egypt.
Alexander of Macedon
The appearance of Alexander led to a turning point in a war between the Greek states and the Persians. At the time, the two warring factions were at a stalemate, with neither side gaining any advantage over the other. However, when Alexander appeared, the Greeks gained a major advantage. Though his forces were smaller in numbers compared to the Persian armies, their sheer discipline, much more advanced weaponry, and superior tactics allowed them to cut into the Persian lands like a hot knife through butter. This earned him the deserved title of Alexander the Great.
The Battle of Gaugamela
Battle of Gaugamela was the focal point where Alexander of Macedon, or Alexander the Great, dissolved the empire founded by Cyrus the shepherd.
Parthians
Parthians were skillful warriors who occupied the region of eastern Iran around Khurasan. At first they were a nomadic people and had a federation of leaders who met in councils and made policies for everyone. Once the Parthians moved toward agriculture, they started to form settlements.
Around the 238 B.C.E., they revolted against their conquerers the Seleucids and started to conquer lands themselves. Parthian's greatest conquerer, Mithradates I, came to power about 171 B.C.E. Due to their heavy calvary, Mithradates I consolidated his hold on Iran and extended Parthian rule to Mesopotamia. The structure of their government was modeled after the Achaemenids. They used satraps which are Achaemenid techniques of administration and taxation. They also built Ctesiphon, their capital. Parthian rule lasted for three centuries between India and the Mediterranean. However, in the first century B.C.E. they faced pressure from the Roman Empire. With constant conflicts with the Romans and rebellions from the satraps, the Parthians fell during the early third century B.C.E.
Persepolis
Persepolis, the capital city of the Persian Empire, was built by Darius not only as an administrative center, but also as a monument to the Achaemenid dynasty. There were vast reception halls, royal residences , and a well protected treasury. It remained the capital until the end of the Achaemenid dynasty.
The Persian Royal Road
The Persian Royal Road was a 1,600 mile-long road built by the Achaemenids. It stretched “from the Aegean port of Ephesus to Sardis in Anatolia” (pg 139). This road made the maintenance of this vast empire possible, shortening travel time and facilitating communication. There were also courier services stationed 25 to 30 miles apart, allowing urgent messages to be sent from one end of the road to another in only two weeks’ time. Even today the United States Postal Service bases its standard for employees off of the Achaemenids’ postal service. With time, routes were improved and expanded upon, linking Persia with northern India, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Syria, and Egypt. Altogether this road spanned approximately 8, 000 miles, not only simplifying communication, but also promoting trade among the cities, allowing a prosperous economy to develop.
Darius I
Daris I ruled Persia from 522 BCE-486 BCE and was considered “the greatest of the Achaemenid kings.” Under his rule, the work of his predecessors was completed and Achaemenid Perisa became the largest empire in the world. Even after this he continued to improve his realm, centralizing administration, encouraging the development of artisanal crafts, starting construction projects, and forming judicial systems. However, there were also revolts and upheavals during his time, and he had plans to punish the Greeks for encouraging them. Before his plan could take place, his health failed, and he passed his crown to his oldest son Xerxes I before dying in 486 BCE.
(Source: http://www.ancient.eu/Darius_I/ )
(Source: http://www.ancient.eu/Darius_I/ )
Darius II
Daris II ruled Persia from 423 BCE—404 BCE. He was originally named Ochus, he changed his name to Darius when he came into power by overthrowing and beheading Artaxerxes, his half-brother. There was much discontent caused by his rule, which showed through the “intrigue and corruption of the Achaemenid court and the revolts in Hyrcania and Media.” Much of his rule was spent at war with Athens, resulting in the recovery of the greater part of Ionia. Darius II then bestowed full support behind his Spartan allies and replaced Tissaphernes, whose policies were holding back the Spartans, to his son Cyrus the Younger. Because of this, Athenian power was broken in 405 BCE, just before Darius’s death in 404 BCE.
(Source: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Darius-II-Ochus )
(Source: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Darius-II-Ochus )
Darius III
Darius III, the last king of the Achaemenid empire, ruled from 336 BCE—330 BCE. Originally named Codomannus, he was installed into power by Bagoas, who unsuccessfully tried to poison him when he found out that Darius could not be controlled. Despite his independence, Darius III was eventually overcome by Alexander the Great. Originally not perceived as a threat, Alexander the Great made his way through the Asia Minor in the spring of 334 BCE. Darius did not face him until the Battle of Issus in 333 BCE. Despite having at least double the amount of forces of Alexander’s army, Darius lost the battle and fled, leaving behind his family to be captured. He regrouped and faced Alexander again at the Battle of Guagamela in 331 BCE. He had the support of many of his satraps’s armies, but he again lost to Alexander and fled to Bactria. During this time Alexander took control of many cities, including the capital of Persepolis. However, Darius was betrayed by his cousin Bessus, the satrap of Bactria, who stabbed Darius and left him in a wagon to be found by Macedonian soldiers. Alexander the Great gave Darius a proper burial, married Darius’s daughter Statira in 324 BCE, and became the official ruler of Persia.
(Source: http://www.ancient.eu/Darius_III/ )
(Source: http://www.ancient.eu/Darius_III/ )
Satrapies
Satrapies were “administrative and taxation districts governed by satraps” (pg 138). The satraps were governors appointed by the king who owed him their allegiance and oversaw affairs within their region. Though the satraps themselves were Persian, local officials were recruited to serve all subordinate roles. Darius I sought to improve the efficiency of satrapies, implementing a more regulated taxation in which satraps paid a set quantity of silver, and occasionally horses or slaves, in lieu of gifts of tribute, which were random and unregulated. Darius I also took care of the possibility of satraps allying with local groups by “creating a new category of officials…known as ‘the eyes and ears of the king’” (pg 138). These agents had their own military forces and travelled to different satrapies, auditing accounts and collecting reports. With these careful regulations in the satrapies, the Achaemenid empire was able to prosper for a long period of time.
Seleucids
Seleucids ruled the Persian empire from 323-83 BCE. It was founded by Seleucus after the death of Alexander the Great. Seleucids founded new cities for the Greek colonists. They adapted to the new areas vastly and stimulated trade and economic development for the empire. The Persians were against the Seleucids and worked to stop the development of their society. They ruled until 83 BCE until being conquered by the Roman empire.
Zarathustra
Zarathustra was a Persian prophet (ca. 6th century BCE) who founded Zoroatrianism. Little information has survived from his teachings and his life. There isn’t a clear description of the exact date in which he lived. But some researchers believed that he lived from 1200-1000 BCE. He came from an aristocratic family and when he was 20 he left his family on a journey to recover wisdom.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism was a Persian religioun based on the teaching of the 6th century BCE prophet Zarathustra. Its emphasis was on the duality of good and evil and on the role of individuals in determining their own fate, which would influence later religions. This teaching perished because the priests were more oral priests and did not document their practices and teachings.