Chapter 5.1 Flashcards
What new Empire was the clear successor to the Great Mesopotamian states of the past?
The Persian Empire, it was much larger however
What three important political characteristics did Persia have?
1) The Empire practiced a policy of tolerance, allowing for diversity
2) There was a strong authoritarian streak, so laws and tax collecting was centralized
3) Persian rulers created a vital infrastructure for the empire (road system etc.)
What type of government did the Persians have? (Particularly under Darius).
They developed a substantial bureaucracy, in which spies would be sent to make sure regional officials remained loyal to the central government (centralization, unlike Greece city-states).
What new religion was Persia the center of?
Zoroastrianism; see life as a battle between good and evil, and that you make correct moral choices to be sent to the “House of Songs”, their version of Heaven
What is the legacy of Zoroastrianism?
It’s ideas and beliefs strongly affected Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
What toppled the Persian Empire?
The Great conquered Alexander the Great
Who was Xerxes? What did he do?
He was the Persian king who created a plan to conquer the Greeks, but his navy was destroyed at the narrow strait of Thermopylae and Xerxes was forced to flee
