geography persian empire
persian empires landscape was very diverse, covering many regions
centre was the landlocked persia
its terrain consited of rugged dessert and mountain ranges.
resources/economy persian empire
Largely based on agriculture and livestock
Also included timber, iron copper, tin and lead
Horses are very important
The trading system introduced by Achaemenid rule facilitated the exchange of commodities throughout the vast reaches of the empire.
Important acquisition of fleets of conquered territories to form the Persian navy.
Payment of tribute under the sattrap system
Persian king overview
powers-
The reigning king chose his successor- usually his son
Incharge of the Sattrap system
All authority political, legal and military was centred around the king
Acheamenid kings from darius I onwards claimed to rule with the sanction of Ahuramazda
persian Army
10 000 immortals - Persian/ median picked troops
-Persian cavalry, warriors from all over the empire
Navy- Phoenicia (Lebanon), Egypt, Ionian cities (Greeks fromTurkish coast)
ancient sources
Herodotus is our main source however very biased against Xerxes and Persia
Domination of greek style sources (helenocronism)
Herodotus: “The histories”
Asechylus: “the persians” (greek soldier, first hand, dramatised fiction)
Ctesias: “History of Persia”
Diodorus- gives a general look
Xenephon gives details on young men growing up in Persia- persian nobility
Biblical/ Torah sources
Book of Esther ( identified as Xerxes, but it could be a later Persian ruler)
Inscriptions from the Behistum Rock
Tomb of Xerxes
Inscriptions and remains found at Persepolis
Daeva inscription
Persepolis Fortification Archives and persepolis administration archives
ahurmazda
most important god ahurmazda was the sky god however emerged as protector of kings and creator
modern interpretations
Film 2006 ‘300’ and ‘rise of an empire’
Xerxes played by Rodrgio Santo
Based on comic book
Xerxes appeares-
Not traditional clothing
The worshping of him is extravagent
Thinks of himself as gods- against persian tradition
Wealth and gold
Cruel and sadistic
One night with the king
2006 romance drama based on biblical account of queen Esta and Xerxes
Looks european
Handsome
Loving/ kind
Gullible
Fairly close to biblical accounts
Xerxes family background
- Herodotus sources
2.Astyages (the king of Medes) has a daughter, Mandane - Dream that mandana will destroy him, so sends her to mary Cambyses I. Cambyses I is only Persian king but holds direct Archemeanid lineage.
- Their child Cyrus the Great, murders Astyges becoming King of Persian empire.
- He has three children, Cambyses II, Atossa and Artystone
- Cambyses II marries both his sisters and conquerors egypt.
- On his death, Darius usurps the throne, claiming distant Archeamenid inheritance and marrying both sisters to gain further right to the throne.
- Darius has many brothers that act as advisors and satraps including Gobrius, Arteas and Artabanus
- Darius and Atossa have Xerxes in 526 BC, Xerxes becoming king in 480BC
- Xerxes has many siblings and step siblings including Hystapes, achamenes and masistes.
- Xerxes then marries Amestris and their child Atraxerxes becomes the next king of Persian empire.
Xerxes succesion to the throne
For Xerxes-
-optimal age of 36
-handsome and tall (Herodotus and reliefs)
-Darius selected him (Relief depicting them recieving tributes together)
-First born son of Darius and Atossa (Herodotus tells us the story of the Spartan king in Persian courts)
-Bawshapa inscription mentions Xerxes possible role as satrap of Babylon
against Xerxes
- there is normally violence when changing power (Tom Holland)
-He is not the oldest brother
-Ctesias states that Ariameres sought to challenge Xerxes right to succession. So there could have been some contention
however Xerxes succession to kingship seems fairly seamless because of the above factors.
xerxes administration
satrapal system
coinage
roads
universal law code
royal court
royal treasuries
control of subjects
construction projects
preparations for military campaigns
agriculture tribute and trade
revolts in egypt
June 486BC
reasons for revolt
-darius was heavy taxing/ levying troops (JM Cook) because waging war on greece
Persian loss of prestige (battle of marathon)
trouble in Egypt with the nubians
Xerxes
actd fast, lead campaign himself, quashed in 12 months
H- appointed archemenes (brother) satrap of egypt
Egypt treated harshly?
Xerxes named “that wicked man” priests at Buto. H talked to priests very angry.
Removed Pharonik titles ? -Herodotus, cook disagrees because cartouche found with Xerxes name
Archeology- building projects in Egypt during Xerxes reign
