Persian Empire

During the hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, numerous Indo-European speaking tribes, known collectively as the Persians, were scattered throughout most of southwestern Iran. Prior to 550 BC, the Persians were under the control of the Medes. In that year, the Persians, under the direction of their powerful leader Cyrus, conquered the Medes and took over all territory formerly under Median control. Three years later, Coesus, the king of Lydia, attacked the Persians but was defeated and his territory was confiscated. By 539, the Persians had also captured the land of the Chaldeans.

In 530, Cyrus died and was succeed by his son Cambyses (530-522). Cambyses expanded the borders of the Persian empire to include Egypt. However, he took his own life in 522 due to stress induced by the threat of a revolt within the empire. It has also been suggested that Cambyses had been suffering from a mental illness which may have heightened his anxiety and led to his suicide. Cambyses' successor was Darius I (522-486), who seized control after a period of civil unrest.

One of Darius' greatest accomplishments was maintaining the unity of an empire that controlled so many different regions and groups of people. To govern such an area, Darius organized his empire into a series of provinces which were directed by individual governors, or satraps. These satraps collected taxes and soldiers for the king. Supervisors for the king, known as his "Eyes and Ears," traveled to each province to collect these items.

Darius also instituted a public works system within his massive empire. He organized a postal system, ordered the construction and improvement of roads, and order the casting of gold coins, known as darics. Darius also set up a standard system of weights and measures for the empire. He also began building palaces and other structures at the city of Persepolis, the royal center of his empire, in southwestern Iran.

The accomplishments of Persia were great in the areas of conquering, unifying, and governing territories, but these achievements also extended to the area of religion. Zoroaster (628-551), a religious prophet, developed a religion which came to be accepted by many. In this religion, two gods, Ahura Mazda, god of light, truth, health, life, and goodness, and Ahriman, god of darkness and evil, were believed to exist together in a constant struggle for dominance in the universe. However, it was believed that Ahura Mazda would be the eventual victor, and on Judgment Day, all people who have ever lived -- both alive and dead -- would be sent to either heaven or hell.

Sources:

Richard N. Frye, "Persia," and Tamara M. Green, "Zoroasterism," Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia, 1993; World History, Volume One, St. Paul, MN: West Publishing Company, 1991.