Persia Flashcards
Main Idea-Persia
Persian Empire ruled w/ tolerance and wise govt
Relevance-Persia
Tolerance and wise govt are characteristics of most successful methods of rule
Where was Persia?
modern-day Iran
What marks Persia out among ancient empires?
world’s largest empire
Where did Persia stretch from?
Indus river to Lydia, dips down to Israel
What were the key aspects of the Persian empire?
as opposed to previous empires, i.e. Assyrians, who employed exclusive coercive power and military force to control a vast empire, Persians based their empire on tolerance and diplomacy
what is diplomacy and what is a modern example of it?
the art of dealing with people, especially other nations, in a sensitive and effective way. UN.
What did Cyrus put into practice with his conquests that deviated from the norm?
- Looting, rape, pillage, and burning of buildings by troops was forbidden during conquering
- Conquered people were never enslaved
What had Cyrus done by 539 BCE?
Conquered the entire Fertile Crescent
What made Cyrus so great?
he made use of reverent power.
What did Cyrus do in Babylonia?
Fixed their houses, abolished the corvee
How was Cyrus affiliated with the Jews?
He honored God even though he lived in a polytheistic culture. He was favorable toward the Jewish people and allowed them to go back to Israel and rebuild the Temple. This is why he was called Mashiach in Tanach even though he’s a gentile.
What year did Cyrus die?
530 BCE
What year did Cambyses inherit the throne and conquer Egypt?
525 BCE
Who was Cambyses?
Cyrus’s son?
What can we learn from Cyrus’s tomb?
relatively unadorned, shows his humility
how did Cyrus present himself when he conquered Babylon?
As their ally, a liberator
How was Cyrus similar to Julius Caesar?
Conquered but didn’t live long enough to put the empire together
What was the battle of Pelusium?
Conflict between the pharaoh Psametik III and Cambyses.
What year was the battle of Pelusium?
525 BCE
What is another name for the pharoah Psametik III?
Psammenitus
Where was the position at Pelusium?
mouth of the Nile
What did Psammenitus do in prep for the battle?
stood by the position @ Pelusium and waited for attack