THE ASSYRIAN (700-612 BCE) AND PERSIAN (559- 360 BCE) EMPIRES Assyrian warship Assyrian King Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions.

THE ASSYRIAN (700-612 BCE) AND PERSIAN

(559-360 BCE) EMPIRES

Assyrian warship

Assyrian King Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions

ASSYRIA (700-612 BCE)

• Semitic-speaking peopleSemitic-speaking people• Used iron weapons to Used iron weapons to

establish an empireestablish an empire

Modern reproduction of Assyrian sword

and shield

GOVERNMENT• Ruled by kings with absolute Ruled by kings with absolute

powerpower• Well-organizedWell-organized• Officials developed an efficient Officials developed an efficient

communication systemcommunication system• Sargon II was the most Sargon II was the most

important leaderimportant leader

Assyrian winged bull from Sargon’s palace

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Created one of the world’s finest libraries at Nineveh: Ashurbanipal

• Established Aramaic as official language

• Effective military• Assyrians had the first large armies

equipped with iron weapons• Used guerilla warfare, various siege tactics,

and terror

Infantry

Assyrian battering ram

FALL OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE• The Chaldeans and Medes (people

who lived in the east) joined together to conquer the Assyrians• The fall of Nineveh preceded the fall

of the Assyrian Empire• They divided the empire

Tablet detailing the destruction of Nineveh

Don’t eat these!!!!!!!!!

BETWEEN THE EMPIRES• NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar

• Chaldean KingChaldean King• Made Babylonia the strongest city in Made Babylonia the strongest city in

western Asiawestern Asia• Famous hanging gardens• Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 BCBabylon fell to the Persians in 539 BC

• This marked the end of the Mesopotamian This marked the end of the Mesopotamian empiresempires

• Persians adopted Assyrian military, political Persians adopted Assyrian military, political and artistic inventionsand artistic inventions

Nebuchadnezzar faces off against King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah

PERSIA (559 BCE- 360 BCE)• PersiansPersians

• Indo-Europeans who lived in modern Indo-Europeans who lived in modern IranIran

• Mostly nomadic• Eventually united by one family (Achaemenids)

• Contemporaries of GreeksContemporaries of Greeks• Persian Empire was massive and grew Persian Empire was massive and grew

larger than the prior Mesopotamian larger than the prior Mesopotamian empiresempires• Established durable political and cultural traditions• Fertile farmland and thriving trade

CYRUS THE GREAT – 559 BC• Created a powerful state through Created a powerful state through

warfarewarfare• Indus River to Anatolia• Demonstrated wisdom, compassion, and

mercy• Had a genuine respect for other cultures Had a genuine respect for other cultures

and practiced tolerance of local customsand practiced tolerance of local customs• Respected temples• Jews returned to Jerusalem

DARIUS – 521 BCE• Bodyguard for Cambyses (son of Cyrus)

and one of the Ten Thousand Immortals

• ConquerorConqueror• Added part of India to Persian EmpireAdded part of India to Persian Empire• Conquered Thrace (in Europe)• Invaded Greek mainland

• Halted at the Battle of Marathon

• Created world’s largest empire at that timeCreated world’s largest empire at that time

• Government• Strengthened

• Divided empire into 20 ethnic provinces Divided empire into 20 ethnic provinces • Satraps: GovernorSatraps: Governor

• Homelands

• Created efficient communication systemCreated efficient communication system

• Like the Assyrians, Darius had a secret spy force – “King’s Eyes and Ears”

• The King had the power of life and death

• MilitaryMilitary• Empire’s power depended upon the militaryEmpire’s power depended upon the military• Included standing army of professional Included standing army of professional

soldierssoldiers• cavalry and infantrycavalry and infantry

• Effective road systemEffective road system

XERXES• Son of DariusSon of Darius

• Stopped rebellion in Egypt and attacked Stopped rebellion in Egypt and attacked GreeceGreece• Greece

• Battle of Thermopylae (Against 300 Spartans!)Battle of Thermopylae (Against 300 Spartans!)

• Battle of Salamis

• Was defeated and returned to PersiaWas defeated and returned to Persia

ZOROASTRIANISM• Persian religion Named after its prophet -- Persian religion Named after its prophet --

ZoroasterZoroaster• TenetsTenets

• Proto-Monotheistic: Ahura MazdaProto-Monotheistic: Ahura Mazda• Humans play a role in the struggle between good and evilHumans play a role in the struggle between good and evil

• Humans are given the freedom to choose between right Humans are given the freedom to choose between right and wrongand wrong

FALL OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE

• Kings became isolated and focused on obtaining Kings became isolated and focused on obtaining luxuries, following Dariusluxuries, following Darius

• Struggles over the throne weakened the monarchy Struggles over the throne weakened the monarchy

• Family problemsFamily problems

• Eventually defeated by Alexander the GreatEventually defeated by Alexander the Great

Persian archer