W2L3 - The Persian Empire

Question 1

The Persians

Answer 1

• Migrated peacefully (acculturation) to Iran 1000 BCE
• Indo-Iranian people
• Developed city-states alongside Elamites, Babylonians and Medes

Question 2

The Assyrian Empire dates

Answer 2

1200-612 BCE

Question 3

The Assyrian Empire

Answer 3

• First military power in history due to extensive use of iron weaponry
• Successful at establishing empire from Sumer to Egypt

Question 4

Decline of Assyrian Empire

Answer 4

• Centralised government
• Laissez-faire management
• Previous tactics produce resentment
• Internal Palace Conflict
• Drought

Question 5

Transition

Answer 5

• Coalition of Babylonians,
  Medes, Persians, Elamites, and
  Scythians sack and burn the capital of Nineveh in 612 BCE
• Rise of the Neo Babylonian Empire 626-539
• Babylonian ruler Nabonidus usurps throne and shifts
  worship from Marduk to Sin
• Cyrus then emerges on the scene

Question 6

Cyrus Cylinder

Answer 6

• Written in Babylonian
• Found in 1879
• Housed in British Museum
• Some of the text appears on other clay tablets

Question 7

Contents of Cyrus Cylinder

Answer 7

• Lines 1-19 written in 3rd person singular
• Lines 20-45 written in 1st person singular (by Cyrus)

Question 8

Nabonidus Chronicle

Answer 8

• Cuneiform tablets covering the reign of Nabonidus, entry/conquest of Babylon by Cyrus and start of Cambyses’s
  reign.
• According to this text, Cyrus on his approach to Babylon, took the city of Opis at the banks of the
  Tigris by force, plundering the city
  and killing its inhabitants.
• At this news, the city of Sippar surrendered and Nabonidus fled.

Question 9

Death of Cyrus and Cambyses

Answer 9

• Diverse stories about Cyrus’ death
• Cambyses II, king of Babylon since 538 BCE
• Cambyses continues Cyrus’ pattern for handling differences, developing imperial imaginaries.
• Death of Cambyses and succession shrouded by mystery

Question 10

Darius I

Answer 10

• Usurped throne with support of Persian elites
• Required use of imperial imaginaries

Question 11

Darius I and the Ionian Revolt

Answer 11

• Ionians paid taxes and tribute
• Several independent city states
• Rebel Leader requests support from Sparta and Athens
• Athens in midst of dispute
• Recognised the persian king
• Broke their alliance

Question 12

Greek persian wars

Answer 12

• Darius responses losing at Marathon (490BCE)
• Darius succeeded by Xerxes
• Xerxes defeated at Salamis and Plataea

Question 13

Xerxes I

Answer 13

• 486-465 BCE
• Other than greece, stable rule
• Managed revolts in Bactria, Babylonia and Egypt
• Engaged in massive building projects