Historical Context

Make a timeline; Achaemenid Dynasty

• 559-530 - Cyrus the Great.

• 529-522 - Cambyses (son)

• 522 - Smerdis (Bardiya) (brother)

• 521-486 - Darius I, the Great.

• 485-465 - Xerxes I (son)

• 464-424 - Artaxerxes I,

 Research in pairs one of the Four Great Persian Kings

  Create a PPT that outlines the accomplishments of the Four Great Persian  Kings

    Cyrus the Great, Cambyses II, Darius the Great, and Xerxes I. 

   Make a PPT that outlines their major challenges and achievements.

   Key questions

   How did these kings expand the empire? 

   What did they do to control a vast Empire? 

   Where did they build and why? 

     Provide illustrations, such as maps, pictures of artifacts, or personal drawings that allow       the PPT to come to life.  

Cyrus the Great

Include 4 events (either expansion of the empire or activities that supported controlling a large empire).  

Cambyses II

Include 3 events ( expansion of the empire or activities that supported controlling a large empire). 

Darius the Great

Include 4 events (either expansion of the empire or activities that supported controlling a large empire). 

Xerxes I

Include 3 events (either expansion of the empire or activities that supported controlling a large empire).

Explain how the Persian kings controlled the people of the empire and administered their affairs.

What evidence is there that Pasargadae was a capital with ritual significance?

Why did the Persian Kings incorporate architectural elements from Assyria, Greece and Egypt at Pasargadae?

What does archaeological evidence from Susa reveal about the subject peoples of the empire?

UNESCO World Heritage listing for Pasargadae.

Define the following terms: satrap, subject peoples, rite, terebinth, bas-relief, audience hall.

The Layout of the City

The history of Persepolis as revealed through the sources, including:

the layout of the city of Persepolis, the features of the city and their role in everyday life

Text Chapter 14.5 Layout and architectural features of Persepolis

Use the document that has been shared with you to complete the following activity.

Before you begin, make a copy of the document and save it to your own drive.

Individually, complete the table in the document.

Use the text Chapter 14.5 and the University of Chicago Oriental Institute to start with.

Some resources: Persepolis - Images of an Empire; Persepolis and Ancient Iran; Persepolis - A Virtual Reconstruction (video).

Useful Website; https://maxworldhistory.weebly.com/persia.html 

Religion

Throughout much of the Persian Empire, religious tolerance was practices.  However, one of the earliest monotheistic faiths in the world, Zoroastrianism, gained favor among the Persian elites.  

Many scholars believe that Zoroastrianism is one of the earliest faiths to adopt a dualistic view of the world: that the universe in caught in an epic, cosmic battle between good and evil.  Those who are judged to be good will go to heaven, and those who are judged to be bad will go to hell.  

Persians and Zoroastrians appear in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.  In the Old Testament, Queen Esther was married to the Persian King Xeres, and in the New Testament, the Three Wise Men are Zoroastrian priests who bring gifts to the Christ Child.    

Persians were predominantly followers of Zoroastrianism, especially during the Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BCE).

Zoroastrianism, founded by the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), was one of the world’s first known monotheistic religions. It centred on the worship of Ahura Mazda (the Wise Lord) as the supreme god and emphasised the cosmic struggle between good and evil, truth and falsehood.

Key points:

• Achaemenid rulers like Cyrus the Great and Darius I supported Zoroastrianism, but were tolerant of other faiths in their vast empire.
  
  

• Religious practices included fire temples, sacred hymns (the Gathas), and rituals promoting truth, justice, and order.
  
  

• Zoroastrianism deeply influenced later religions, including aspects of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Outline some of the basic beliefs of Zoroastrianism. 

Explain the characteristics of the god Ahura Mazda.   

Views on Foreigners 

The Persian Empire was made-up of a diverse collection of peoples.  Essentially, the Persians had two basic requirements: pay a modest amount of tax and/or tribute, and maintain the peace.  The faces of the people below are carved throughout the palace at Persepolis.  By representing them in the imperial capital, the Persians sent the message that all of them were members of the empire.  

The number of Persians always remained low, so they knew they needed to rule with a light yolk.  For example, Cyrus' willingness to release the Jewish captives from their 'Babylonian Captivity' earned him the epithet: 'The Great.' 

The Behistun Inscription

The Behistun Inscription is one of the most important historical records from the ancient Persian Empire. It was commissioned by Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, around 520 BCE, shortly after he seized the throne. The inscription was carved over 60 meters high into the face of a limestone cliff on Mount Behistun (or Bisitun) in western Iran, near the modern-day city of Kermanshah. The site is located along an important ancient trade route that connected Mesopotamia to the Iranian plateau, making it a strategic place for such a public declaration.

The inscription is written in three languages: Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian (a form of Akkadian), reflecting the multinational nature of the Persian Empire. The text is accompanied by a carved relief showing Darius I standing over a fallen rebel, with other rebel leaders lined up before him, their hands bound, while the god Ahura Mazda hovers above in a winged disk.

The main purpose of the Behistun Inscription was to justify Darius’s rule and to portray him as a rightful and divinely chosen king. In it, Darius recounts how, after the death of King Cambyses II, several individuals falsely claimed to be the legitimate ruler. He calls these men “liars” and lists the various rebellions he had to suppress throughout the empire. Darius insists that his success in restoring order was due to the will of Ahura Mazda, the chief god of Zoroastrianism. One powerful quote from the inscription reads:

“I am Darius, the great king, king of kings, king in Persia, king of the countries, son of Hystaspes, an Achaemenian... By the grace of Ahura Mazda, I am king; Ahura Mazda gave me the kingdom.”

The inscription also carries a message for future kings, urging them to punish liars and to rule with justice. Darius warns:

“You who shall be king hereafter, protect yourself vigorously from lies! The man who shall be a liar — punish him severely!”

The Behistun Inscription is both a political and religious statement. It serves as a piece of royal propaganda, emphasising the legitimacy of Darius’s rule, the loyalty he demands, and the divine support he claims to have. Its location high on a cliff—over 60 metres above the ground—made it difficult to tamper with, helping preserve the king’s message for centuries.

Today, the Behistun Inscription is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, valued not only for its historical content but also for its role in helping scholars unlock the meaning of cuneiform. It remains a critical source for understanding the Persian Empire and the way ancient rulers used inscriptions to maintain and project their power.

Outline the historical significance of Darius's Behistan Inscription. 

Learn about the creation of the Persian Empire during the reign of Cyrus.