F.A. ANCIENT GREECE: Persian Empire

Royal Road

Considered an ancient Highway that was built by Darius I, it was created to make speed up communication within the Empire, thus allowing for Darius to have more control within his new conquered territories.

Modern Day Persia

Consist of the modern day country of Iran

The Achaemenids

Founded the Persian Empire around 700 B.C. Before Cyrus the Great, these people were nomads and cattle herders.

Darius I

Also called Darius the Great, he was the third king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. He became upset of Athens continued support of the Greek Ionian Revolt led by Aristagoras. He invaded Mainland Greece, hence starting the Persian Wars.

Persian Wars

Also known as the Greco-Persian Wars, it was as s series of wars between Greece and Persia that started in 499 B.C. to 449 B.C.. Asia Minor was part of the Persian Empire when the conflict began, in part because the Ionians (Greeks in modern day Turkey) revolted and were supported by mainland Greeks.

Satrapies, Satrap, and Provinces.

As the Persian Empire expanded, Darius established Satrapies, regions ruled by Satraps, to help him rule and maintain order in his Empire by collecting taxes. Thus, creating 20 different provinces.

Cyrus the Great

Cyrus II of Persia, founder of the Achaemenid Empire. His empire stretched from Southwest Asia to Central Asia and the Caucasus. From the Mediterranean Sea and Hellespont in the west to the Indus River in the east. He added the most territory to the Empire.

Cyrus the Great and the Jewish People

Cyrus the Great conquered the Babylonians, were the Jewish people were being held captive. After the conquest of Babylon Cyrus ordered the Jewish people to be free and allowed to practice their religion. Cyrus was known for respecting local traditions and customs.

The Second Persian Invasion

In 480 B.C. Persian King Xerxes I invaded Greece with 100,000 men. The Greek resistance was led by Sparta and Athens. As the Allied fleet blocked the Persian fleet at the straits of Artemisium the Spartans, led by Leonidas I of Sparta, halted the Persian Advancement the famous Battle of Thermopylae. This gave the Greeks enough time to rally and in 479 the Persians were defeated in the Battle of Platea (mainland battle) & in the Battle of Mycale (sea battle) in the same Day.

Conquest of Median Empire

In 550 B.C. Cyrus the Great conquered the Median Empire which led Persia to become a dominant world power in the East.

Nomad

People who do not have a permanent home, and who travel from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock.

King Cambyses

Son of Cyrus the Great the Persian King Cambyses expanded the Persian Empire by conquering Egypt.

Sparta and Athens during the Second Persian Invasion

Sparta led the ground army and attacked the Persians on land while the Athenians and their powerful Navy attacked Persia by sea.

The Persian Empire

The Persian Empire was founded by Cyrus the Great and his decedents, stretching from Mesopotamia to Egypt and Modern day Turkey.

The Battle of Marathon

The culmination of the First Persian invasion, 9, 000 Athenians (plus 1,000 Plataeans) defeated the Persian Army of 25,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry. Darius and his army retreated and quickly began to expand his army for a larger invasion but revolts in Egypt slowed down this plan.

Xerxes I

The fourth king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. Son of Darius 1, he followed his fathers dream of conquering the mainland Greece, his Invasion of mainland Greece in started the Second Persian Invasion of Greece in 480 B.C (Persian Wars).

Achaemenes

Was Persia's first prominent leader, he was a warrior chief.

Conquest of Egypt

Was led by Cyrus the Great's son King Cambyses, who continued to expand the empire.