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Lecture 22 Achaemenid Empire

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Lecture 22 Achaemenid Empire 4/12/2012 Lecture 22 Achaemenid Empire HIST 213 Spring 2012 Who were the Persians? • Indo-European people – closely related to the Medes • first appear in the historical record in 840s – inscription of Shalmaneser III • culture centered in Anshan – capital at Persepolis • conquer largest empire ever pacified • ruled with relative benevolence Rise of Cyrus and the Persians 559 Cyrus II ascends the throne of Anshan – Achaemenid Dynasty – unifies Parsa tribes (horsemen) – builds capital in Parsagade – Cyrus makes secret peace accord with Babylonia and plots to overthrow the Medes 1 4/12/2012 Cyrus the Great (600-530 BCE) 550 BCE army of Median King sent to stop Cyrus • defects to Cyrus Persians march on Ecbatana (Medes capital) • Median troops rebel and hand over King to Cyrus 546-539 conquers Near East everything after that – Conquers the Ionian Greeks and installs loyal tyrants – Herodotus calls Persians the “Medes” – dies in battle (530 BCE) Cyrus Cylinder (doc 11.1) • date 538 BCE • clay cylinder • written in Akkadian – 40+ lines of writing • found in 1879 – Nineveh, Iraq • currently: British Museum • Tells of Cyrus’ rise to power 2 4/12/2012 Cyrus Cylinder 9-14: Marduk’s anger turns to mercy in the face of his people’s suffering; he examines all the countries to find a just and suitable ruler. He takes Cyrus, king of Anshan, calls him to his position and appoints him Cyrus Cylinder 15-19: Marduk now orders Cyrus to go to Babylon and accompanies him and his troops like a friend; he causes him to enter Babylon without a battle and hands Nabonidus over to him. All the inhabitants of Babylon are delighted, welcome Cyrus as king and praise Marduk for their deliverance. Cyrus Cylinder 20-22: ‘I, Cyrus’; followed by royal titles and genealogy back to great-grandfather - ‘eternal seed of royalty, whose kingship is loved by Marduk and Nabu, who desired his kingship in order to please their hearts.’ 22-24: Cyrus’ peaceful and joyful arrival in Babylon and his daily honoring of Marduk. 3 4/12/2012 Conflict with the Lydians 540s Persians come into contact with the Lydia • Cyrus sent messages to the Ionians asking them to revolt against Lydian rule – Ionians refused After conquest: • Ionian cities offered to be Persian subjects under the same terms – Cyrus refused, citing the Ionians’ unwillingness to help – Installed tyrants to rule for Persia • Cyrus the Great liberates Hebrew exiles • allows them to resettle and rebuild Jerusalem • Earns him an honored place in Judaism. Illuminated manuscript by Jean Fouquet (1470-1475) Paris: BnF, Manuscrits, Français 247 fol. 230v. (Livre XI) The Tomb of Cyrus the Great • 1:38-3:15 • http://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=nSm68TxRB Ro&feature=related Cyrus's tomb in Pasargadae, Iran UNESCO World Heritage Site (2006). 4 4/12/2012 Cambyses II (530-522 BCE) • Plans to conquer Egypt – Egypt had recently taken over Cyprus – hires Phoenicians and Ionians to build a fleet – hires Bedouins to supply water across Sinai • Successful in battle – takes over Libya as well Cambyses II of Persia capturing Pharaoh Psamtik III • Herodotus describes "Persian seal, VI century BCE" Cambyses as ruthless • dies on the way back from Egypt Cambysses’ missing army according to Herodotus… http://news.discovery.com/videos/archaeolog y-ancient-lost-army-found.html Darius (c. 522– 486 BCE) Behistun Inscription, near Kermanshah, Iran 5 4/12/2012 Behistun Inscription Kermanshah, Iran I am Darius the King, the son of Hystaspes, the Achaemenid, the King of Kings, the Persian, the King of Persia… Thus says Darius, the King: This is what I have done in one year under the protection of Ahura-Mazda. After becoming king I have fought 19 battles in one year under the protection of Ahura-Mazda I have won them. … Power of the Persian Shahen-Shah In theory King’s power was absolute • in practice King needed to confer with important members of the upper class King’s word was law • but still needed to confer with “law-givers” – balance of custom vs. law • Cambyses wanted to marry his sister • “law-givers” said “no!” 6 4/12/2012 Persian Military Power • Assyrian cavalry and siege experience • Medes and road building Cyrus’ Army • “The Immortals” kept at 10,000 strength – 2000 foot – 6000 cavalry • Universal military training (10 years for youths) • Could raise fighting force of 300,000 • also draw on levied national forces (not as good) Persian Logistical Excellence under Darius • Could move large military units quickly to anywhere in Empire – Logistical ability not duplicated until Napoleonic Era • Series of roads – Sardis-Susa 1500 mi. in 15 days (horse relays) – postal system • Royal “inspectors” would check up on Satraps • Supply scouts sent ahead to help logistics • Central command carried all needed supplies • arrows, bows, armor, naphtha, water • Corps dedicated to pack animals Satrap (governor) Satrapy (province) 7 4/12/2012 Economics of Army Supply • Armies had to wage war “on a budget” – no longer take from the people while marching through • Quartermasters paid in hard currency – gold Daric • Supplying the military became big business • Towns welcomed Persian army – economic boom gold Daric Comparison: Assyrians and Persians Assyrians Persians • valued loyalty • valued loyalty • Effective military • Effective military infrastructure infrastructure – ruthless in battle – ruthless in battle – used terror to control – used inclusion • saw king as instrument • saw king as instrument of divine will of divine will – rule set to further – rule set to bring peace conquest/power of the and prosperity to the king land 8 .
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