midterm #1 Flashcards
Achaemenid dynasty
- founded in 700 BC by Achaemenes
- persian dynasty
Cyrus the Great
- aka the II
600 BC-530 BC
when did Cyrus the Great become the King of Persia?
546 BC
how big was the Persian Empire under Cyrus’ rule?
from Asia Minor to India
what did Cyrus the Great do in 539 BC?
(supposedly) liberated 40k Jews held captive in Babylon (as a way of building allies or showing good)
the cyrus cylinder
- circa 539 BC
- clay cylinder = photocopier
- Babylonian account (Cyrus’ scribe)
- form of propaganda -> ‘here’s what i’m doing and why’
what did the cyrus cylinder talk about/claim?
- details cyrus’ conquest of Babylon
- claimed cyrus was the “king of the world”
- claimed that he was chosen by Babylon city god Marduk to restore old ways (no labor-service)
- claimed he entered Babylon peacefully and w/o a fight
Darius I (the great)
522-486 BC
- “great king of kings”
- used religious justification to build off of political legitimacy
what are satrapies?
tax states
what was the importance of achaemenid coinage?
- key invention!! -> new form of technology (used to use huge ingots)
- staple of trust
- easy to carry and use
- made with persian gold daric and silver siglos
what was the importance of achaemenid coinage?
- key invention!! -> new form of technology (used to use huge ingots)
- staple of trust
- easy to carry and use
- made with persian gold daric and silver siglos
when was the ionian revolt?
499-494 BC
who/what was the ionian revolt?
Darius= pissed about the Greeks rebellion and the help they received for it
when was the battle of Marathon?
September, 490 BC
what happened during the Battle of Marathon?
- Greek (Athenians versus the Persians
- Greek (Athenians) victory
- Philippides/Pheidippides runs 26 miles to Athens = ‘we are victorious’
