Chapter 7- Persian Empires

Question 0

What is the chronological order of the Persian empires?

Answer 0

Achaemenids, Seleucids, Parthians, Sassanids

Question 1

In organizing their empire, Persian rulers relied heavily on techniques of administration from…

Answer 1

The Mesopotamians.

Question 2

Describe the Achaemenid empire.

Answer 2

• pastoral & had limited agri.
• had a strong military
• hereditary monarchy
• hard to govern bc of size & diversity
• Darius = ruler
• strong bureaucracy

Question 3

Under the rule of Darius…

Answer 3

formation of:

• satrapies= persian administrative units
• standardized taxes & money, & codified laws
• the qanat (persian underground canals)

Question 4

Decline of Achaemenid bc….

Answer 4

• rebellions & resentment

- invasions by Alex the great

Question 5

What happened in the Seleucid empire?

Answer 5

-became a part of Alexander the Greats empire & was ruled by one of his generals (Seleceus)

Question 6

Why did the Seleucid empire decline?

Answer 6

Because it had opposition from the Persians —> lost of land —> decline

Question 7

Who were the Parthians?

Answer 7

• Nomadic warriors from east Persia who settled & began agriculture
• expansionistic

Question 8

Describe how the Parthians were politically organized?

Answer 8

• decentralized gov’t

- were a satrapy

Question 9

why did the Parthians decline?

Answer 9

Because ~ the 2nd century they start to get pressure from the Roman Empire & internal conflict —> the weakening & collapse

Question 10

What did the Sassanids do after they defeated the Parthians?

Answer 10

• They est’d a strong rule & rebuilt the administrative system
• increased trade & introduced new crops
• created buffer states against Rome

Question 11

Describe the decline of the Sassanid empire.

Answer 11

Conflict w/ other empires to the east & west —> weakening —> defeat by Arabs (651 CE)

Question 12

The Persian imperial society & economy consisted of…

Answer 12

1. warriors & rulers
2. priests
3. merchants & farmers
4. common workers
5. slaves

Question 13

How was the economic foundation of classical Persia set up?

Answer 13

• The state-owned farms supported the imperial bureaucracy and satraps
• long distance trade
• regional specialization

Question 14

What was the religion that developed in Persia? Describe what it is.

Answer 14

Zoroastrianism; it emphasized the struggle between good & evil and rewards in the afterlife for those who chose to follow a good life