We explain what the Persian Empire was, its formation and development. Also, what were its characteristics, culture, economy and more.
The Persian Empire was one of the most powerful in history.
What was the Persian Empire?
The Persian Empire (also known as the Achaemenid Empire) was a Central Asian empire that existed between 550 and 331 BC. c. The Persians built the largest and most powerful empire of the time, they conquered the different kingdoms of Asian Mesopotamia, the Levant, Syria, the towns of Anatolia and part of the Greek cities.
This empire is recognized for having held together a huge and heterogeneous territory, thanks to the strategic combination of centralization and flexibility. Furthermore, the Persian conquests towards other peoples were characterized by their religious tolerance and incorporation of cultural traits of the conquered peoples.
See also: Roman Empire
Characteristics of the Persian Empire
Some of the main characteristics of the Persian Empire were:
- It existed between 550 and 330 BC. C. and dominated Central Asia, Mesopotamia, Palestine, Egypt, Anatolia and part of Greece.
- Its political organization was based on the figure of the emperor and combined a strong central administration with a spirit of flexibility and tolerance.
- It was led by the Achaemenid dynasty, represented by: Cyrus II, Cambyses II, Darius I, Xerxes, Artaxerxes I, Darius III, among others.
- Its capital was located in Persepolis, considered one of the greatest emblems of Persian civilization.
- Its territory was divided into satrapies, which allowed for an orderly administration of imperial politics and economy.
- He stood out in trade and in the development of trade routes that connected all the territories of the empire.
- Their culture took on traits and traditions from the conquered territories and was characterized by the development of architecture and art.
Geographic location of the Persian Empire
Originally, The Persians settled on the Central Asian plateau, in the region that currently belongs to Iran. Through military campaigns, they began to conquer the peoples of the region and build an empire that, at its greatest extent, dominated the western territories of Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Thrace, Macedonia, Armenia to the west. and all of Central Asia to the Indus River to the east.
To its capital, Persepolis, other important cities that the Persians founded or conquered were added throughout its history, such as Ecbatana, Pasargada and Susa.
Today, the Persian Empire would correspond to the territories of Iran, Iraq, part of Egypt, part of Greece, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia, Jordan, Turkmenistan, Oman, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and part of India.
History of the Persian Empire
Cyrus II managed to conquer all the lands of the Medes.
Around 1400 BC. C., The Iranian plateau began to be inhabited by two nomadic groups of Indo-European language: the Medes in the north and the Persians in the south. These peoples spoke the same language and shared beliefs and customs. However, they did not recognize each other as having a common identity. For centuries, the Assyrian Empire dominated the region and forced Medes and Persians to pay tribute. Towards the 7th century BC, the Medes became independent and founded a fortress called Ecbatana, which became their capital. In 612 BC, the Median king defeated the Assyrians and imposed his rule on the Persians.
Around 550 BC, the Persian king Cyrus II organized a rebellion and managed to take the capital of the Medes. He then began a series of military campaigns to extend his rule and conquered the kingdoms of Lydia, Babylon and other cities of Asian Mesopotamia. The regions of Phenicia and Jerusalem were peacefully dominated.
After the death of Cyrus II, Persian power remained in the hands of his son, Cambyses II, who commanded the conquest of Egypt in 525 BC. cThe maximum consolidation of the empire occurred during the reign of Darius I, who was responsible for carrying out many of the works that allowed the interconnection and organization of the territories and the development of cities and palaces.
The fall of the Persian Empire
The Persian Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great.
By 530 BC. C., the Persian Empire already extended throughout Asia and Egypt, and King Darius I had to face revolts that were developed in various territories. One of them was the Ionian revolt, carried out by the Greek territories of the Ionia region with the support of other Greek cities. This revolt was put down and ended with the devastation of the city of Miletus.
One of the highest objectives set by Darius I was the conquest of the rest of the Greek territories. At that time, Greece was organized into city-states that were gradually growing in importance and power. The Persians invaded by sea, in what is known as the First Persian War, and conquered the Cyclades Islands, but were then defeated by the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon (490 BC).
After the death of Darius I, his son, Xerxes I, assumed Persian power.who wanted to continue with the idea of annexing the Greek territories. Thus began the Second Persian War in which the Hellenic peoples emerged victorious, in battles such as that of Salamis (480 BC).
After these successive defeats, Artaxerxes, son of Xerxes, assumed power, and then who was the last king of Persia: Darius III. By this time, Greece had been unified under the power of the Macedonian Alexander the Great, who set his goal of conquering the Persian Empire.
Alexander the Great invaded the Persian Empire and its conquest took place over three main battles: the Battle of Granicus (334 BC), the Battle of Issus (333 BC) and finally the Battle of Gaugamela (331 BC), in which the Persian Empire was defeated and Alexander was established as the new king.
Continue with: Hellenistic Period
Politics and society of the Persian Empire
The conquered towns were incorporated into the provinces and had to pay tribute.
The Persian Empire occupied a vast territory, integrating heterogeneous regions and cultures. Despite the internal rebellions and political crises experienced by the different emperors of the Achaemenid dynasty, the empire It was held together by a combination of a strong and effective centralized organization with a flexible administration, which respected local uses and customs.
At the center of the organization was the emperor. It was a theocratic empire, since the Persians They believed that power had been granted by the god Ahura Mazda, and could not be governed without its protection. They maintained that this god had given Persia supremacy over the rest of the world’s people.
The territories of the empire were divided into twenty satrapies (provincial organization that was established by King Darius I). Each satrapy was governed by a satrap appointed by the emperor. This system allowed for political uniformity within a heterogeneous empire. Each satrapy had a certain autonomy in managing the territory and had to pay tribute to the central power. The level of control, autonomy and taxes that each satrapy had depended on its relationship with the imperial power.
On the other hand, within each satrapy the system of control and administration of resources was reproduced. The local rural population was assigned economic obligations: in addition to customary taxes and services that affected the amount of work they could devote to their own crops, they had to provide food for the satrap’s court.
Economy of the Persian Empire
The Persian economy was based on the imposition of tribute and the domination of local productive resources by the central power and the different levels of imperial rulers.
With the creation of the empire, the Persians unified regions of independent economic development, which were previously only linked to each other by commercial, diplomatic or military ties. By incorporating this heterogeneity, the Persian Empire developed certain elements that affected local economies throughout the Near East:
- Fiscal and tax unification. All satrapies had to pay taxes to the empire, but the amount and characteristics of the tribute depended on the relationship with the central power.
- Coin introductionThe silver and gold daric became the official currency of the empire. Its metal and weight were guaranteed by the royal stamp.
- Domination of productive resources by imperial authorities. The monarch, the royal family, the nobility, the satraps and the Persian courtiers were privileged in the distribution and delivery of land.
- State control of strategic resources. Different levels of imperial government sought to control access to water and built advanced irrigation systems to enhance agricultural development in drier areas.
- Extension of trade routesThe state developed and improved the road network that connected the different regions. In addition, this unification allowed the development of trade links with more distant regions and the creation of routes to the Far East and Europe.
Religion of the Persian Empire
The Persians believed that Ahura Mazda protected the Achaemenid emperor.
As for religion, the Persians They professed Zoroastrianisma religion that had been revealed by the Iranian prophet Zoroaster and that proposed the worship of a supreme god: Ahura Mazda.
The Persians They believed that the world was the place where the forces of good and evil clashed.. Good was guided by the god Ahura Mazda, creator of the world, the good and the luminous, and evil by Angra Mainyu, creator of darkness, the negative and the obscure. However, for the Persians, good and evil were not entities that could be represented, but rather disembodied truths. Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu were referents of those forces, but they did not personify them.
For the Persians, Humans had to fight evil and, in this way, help Ahura Mazda. They believed that if people practiced justice and virtue, they would be judged after their death and rewarded with eternal salvation.
Regarding the religious organization of the empire, the Persians maintained great tolerance with the conquered peoples and allowed them to continue with their local cults. Therefore, different types of beliefs and religions coexisted in the imperial territory.
Culture of the Persian Empire
The tombs of the Persian emperors were raised above ground level.
The Persian Empire It was characterized by respecting the culture and traditions of the dominated regions and, in many cases, incorporated several of these customs.
- Architecture. The Persians excelled in the construction of palaces, large walled buildings that were usually the homes of emperors or nobles. The palace of Persepolis, located in the east of the country, was one of the most recognized and…