DOCSLIB.ORG

Summarized by © Lakhasly.Com the Royal Road of The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Summarized by © Lakhasly.Com the Royal Road of The The Royal Road of the Achaemenids was a major intercontinental thoroughfare built by the Persian Achaemenid dynasty king Darius the Great (521–485 BCE). The road network allowed Darius a way to access and maintain control over his conquered cities throughout the Persian empire. It is also, ironically enough, the same road that Alexander the Great used to conquer the Achaemenid dynasty a century and a half later. The Royal Road led from the Aegean Sea to Iran, a length of some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers). A major branch connected the cities of Susa, Kirkuk, Nineveh, Edessa, Hattusa, and Sardis. The journey from Susa to Sardis was reported to have taken 90 days on foot, and three more to get to the Mediterranean coast at Ephesus. The journey would have been faster on horseback, and carefully placed way stations helped speed the communication network. From Susa the road connected to Persepolis and India and intersected with other road systems leading to the ancient allied and competing kingdoms of Media, Bactria, and Sogdiana. A branch from Fars to Sardis crossed the foothills of the Zagros mountains and east of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, through Kilikia and Cappadocia before reaching Sardis. Another branch led into Phyrgia. Not Just a Road Network The network might have been called the Royal "Road," but it also included rivers, canals, and trails, as well as ports and anchorages for seaborne travel. One canal built for Darius I connected the Nile to the Red Sea. An idea of the amount of traffic that the roads saw has been gleaned by ethnographer Nancy J. Malville, who examined ethnographic records of Nepali porters. She found that human porters can move loads of 60–100 kilograms (132–220 pounds) a distance of 10–15 kilometers (6–9 miles) per day without the benefit of roads. Mules can carry loads of 150–180 kg (330–396 lbs) up to 24 km (14 mi) per day; and camels can carry much heavier loads up to 300 kg (661 lbs), some 30 km (18 mi) per day. Pirradazish: Express Postal Service According to the Greek historian Herodotus, a postal relay system called pirradazish ("express runner" or "fast runner") in Old Iranian and angareion in Greek, served to connect up the major cities in an ancient form of high-speed communication. Herodotus is known to have been prone to exaggeration, but he was definitely impressed with what he saw and heard. There is nothing mortal that is faster than the system that the Persians have devised for sending messages. Apparently, they have horses and men posted at intervals along the route, the same number in total as the overall length in days of the journey, with a fresh horse and rider for every day of travel. Whatever the conditions—it may be snowing, raining, blazing hot, or dark—they never fail to complete their assigned journey in the fastest possible time. The first man passes his instructions on to the second, the second to the third, and so on. Herodotus, "The Histories" Book 8, chapter 98, cited in Colburn and translated by R. Waterfield. Historic Records of the Road As you might have guessed, there are multiple historical records of the road, including such as Herotodus who mentioned the "royal" waystations along one of the best-known segments. Extensive information also comes from the Persepolis Fortification Archive (PFA), tens of thousands of clay tablets and fragments incised in cuneiform writing, and excavated from the ruins of Darius' capital at Persepolis. Much information about the Royal Road comes from the PFA's "Q" texts, tablets which record the disbursement of specific traveler's rations along the way, describing their destinations and/or points of origin. Those endpoints are often far beyond the local area of Persepolis and Susa. One travel document was carried by the individual named Nehtihor, who was authorized to draw rations in a string of cities through northern Mesopotamia from Susa to Damascus. Summarized by © lakhasly.com Demotic and hieroglyphic graffiti dated to Darius I's 18th regnal year (~503 BCE) has identified another important segment of the Royal Road known as Darb Rayayna, which ran in North Africa between Armant in the Qena Bend in Upper Egypt and the Kharga Oasis in the Western Desert. Architectural Features Determining Darius' construction methods of the road is somewhat difficult since the Achmaenid road was built following older roadways. Probably most of the routes were unpaved but there are some exceptions. A few intact sections of the road which date to Darius's time, such as that at Gordion and Sardis, were constructed with cobblestone pavements atop a low embankment from 5–7 meters (16–23 feet) in width and, in places, faced with a curbing of dressed stone. At Gordion, the road was 6.25 m (20.5 ft) wide, with a packed gravel surface and curbstones and a ridge down the middle dividing it into two lanes. There's also a rock-cut road segment at Madakeh which has been associated with the Persepolis–Susa road, 5 m (16.5 ft) wide. These paved sections were likely limited to the vicinities of cities or the most important arteries. Way Stations Even ordinary travelers had to stop on such long journeys. A hundred and eleven way-posting stations were reported to have existed on the main branch between Susa and Sardis, where fresh horses were kept for travelers. They are recognized by their similarities to caravanserais, stops on the Silk Road for camel traders. These are square or rectangular stone buildings with multiple rooms around a broad market area, and an enormous gate allowing parcel- and human-laden camels to pass under it. The Greek philosopher Xenophon called them hippon, "of horses" in Greek, which means they probably also included stables. A handful of way stations have been tentatively identified archaeologically. One possible way station is a large (40x30 m, 131x98 ft) five-room stone building near the site of Kuh-e Qale (or Qaleh Kali), on or very close to the Persepolis–Susa road, known to have been a major artery for royal and court traffic. It is somewhat more elaborate than would have been expected for a simple traveler's inn, with fancy columns and porticoes. Expensive luxury items in delicate glass and imported stone have been found at Qaleh Kali, all of which leads scholars to surmise that the site was an exclusive way station for wealthier travelers. Traveler's Comfort Inns Another possible but less fancy way station has been identified at the site of JinJan (Tappeh Survan), in Iran. There are two known near Germabad and Madakeh on the Pesrpolis–Susa road, one at Tangi-Bulaghi near Pasargadae, and one at Deh Bozan between Susa and Ecbatana. Tang-i Bulaghi is a courtyard surrounded by thick walls, with several smaller ancient buildings, which fits other types of ancient buildings but also caravanserais. The one near Madakeh is of similar construction. Various historic documents suggest that there were likely maps, itineraries, and milestones to aid travelers in their journeys. According to documents in the PFA, there were also road maintenance crews. References exist of gangs of workmen known as "road counters" or "people who count the road," who made sure that the road was in good repair. There is also a mention in the Roman writer Claudius Aelianus' "De natura animalium" indicating that Darius asked at one point that the road from Susa to Media be cleared of scorpions. Archaeology of the Royal Road Much of what is known about the Royal Road comes not from archaeology, but from the Greek historian Herodotus, who described the Achaemenid imperial postal system. Archaeological evidence suggests that there were several precursors to the Royal Road: that portion which connects Gordion to the coast was likely used by Cyrus the Great during his conquest of Anatolia. It is possible that the first roads were established in Summarized by © lakhasly.com the 10th century BCE under the Hittites. These roads would have been used as trade routes by the Assyrians and Hittites at Boghakzoy. Historian David French has argued that the much later Roman roads would have been constructed along the ancient Persian roads as well; some of the Roman roads are used today, meaning that parts of the Royal Road have been used continually for some 3,000 years. French argues that a southern route across the Euphrates at Zeugma and across Cappodocia, ending at Sardis, was the main Royal Road. This was the route taken by Cyrus the Younger in 401 BCE; and it is possible that Alexander the Great traveled this same route while conquering much of Eurasia in the 4th century BCE. The northern route proposed by other scholars as the main thoroughfare has three possible routes: through Ankara in Turkey and into Armenia, crossing the Euphrates in the hills near the Keban dam, or crossing the Euphrates at Zeugma. All of these segments were used both before and after the Achaemenids. Summarized by © lakhasly.com.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 300: Greco-Persian Wars 300: the Persian Wars — Rule Book
    300: Greco-Persian Wars 300: The Persian Wars — Rule book 1.0 Introduction Illustration p. 2 City "300" has as its theme the war between Persia and Name Greece which lasted for 50 years from the Ionian Food Supply Revolt in 499 BC to the Peace of Callias in 449 BC Road One player plays the Greek army, based around Blue Ear of Wheat = Supply city for the Greek Athens and Sparta, and the other the Persian army. Army During these fifty years launched three expeditions ■ Red = Important city for the Persian army to Greece but in the game they may launch up to Athens is a port five. Corinth is not a port Place name (does not affect the game) 2.0 Components 2.1.4 Accumulated Score Track: At the end of The game is played using the following elements. each expedition, note the difference in score between the two sides. At the end of the game, the 2.1 Map player who leads on accumulated score even by one point, wins the game. If the score is 0, the result is a The map covers Greece and a portion of Asia Minor draw. in the period of the Persian Wars. 2.1.5 Circles of Death/Ostracism: These contain 2.1.1 City: Each box on the map is a city, the images of individuals who died or were containing the following information: ostracised in the course of the game. When this • Name: the name of the city. occurs, place an army or fleet piece in the indicated • Important City: the red cities are important for the circle.
    [Show full text]
  • The Multilingual Urban Environment of Achaemenid Sardis
    s Ls The multilingual urban environment of Achaemenid Sardis Maria Carmela Benvenuto - Flavia Pompeo - Marianna Pozza Abstract Achaemenid Sardis provides a challenging area of research regarding multilingual- ism in the past. Indeed, Sardis was one of the most important satrapal capitals of the Persian Empire both from a political and commercial point of view, playing a key diplomatic role in Greek-Persian relations. Different ethnic groups lived in, or often passed through the city: Lydians, Greeks, Persians and, possibly, Carians and Aramaic- speaking peoples. Despite this multilingual situation, the epigraphic records found at Sardis, or which relate to the city in some way, are scarce, especially when compared to other areas of Asia Minor. The aim of our research – the preliminary results of which are presented here – is to describe the linguistic repertoire of Achaemenid Sardis and the role played by non-epichoric languages. A multi-modal approach will be adopted and particular attention will be paid to the extra-linguistic (historical, social and cul- tural) context. Keywords: Achaemenid Sardis, Aramaic, Greek, Lydian, linguistic repertoire. 1. Introduction This study examines the interrelation between identity and linguistic and socio-cultural dynamics in the history of Achaemenid Lydia. Specifi- cally, the aim of our research is to describe the linguistic repertoire of Ach- aemenid Sardis and the role played by non-epichoric languages within this context, adopting an approach which combines both linguistic and non- linguistic evidence. Given the richness and the complexity of the topic, the present work focuses on the preliminary results of our analysis1. To this end, the paper is organized as follows: section 2 is devoted to a brief historical introduction while section 3 considers methodological issues.
    [Show full text]
  • Barry Strauss
    Faith for the Fight BARRY STRAUSS At a recent academic conference on an- cient history and modern politics, a copy of Robert D. Ka- plan’s Warrior Politics was held up by a speaker as an example of the current influence of the classics on Washing- ton policymakers, as if the horseman shown on the cover was riding straight from the Library of Congress to the Capitol.* One of the attendees was unimpressed. He de- nounced Kaplan as a pseudo-intellectual who does more harm than good. But not so fast: it is possible to be skeptical of the first claim without accepting the second. Yes, our politicians may quote Kaplan more than they actually read him, but if they do indeed study what he has to say, then they will be that much the better for it. Kaplan is not a scholar, as he admits, but there is nothing “pseudo” about his wise and pithy book. Kaplan is a journalist with long experience of living in and writing about the parts of the world that have exploded in recent decades: such places as Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Anyone who has made it through those trouble spots is more than up to the rigors of reading about the Peloponnesian War, even if he doesn’t do so in Attic Greek. A harsh critic might complain about Warrior Politics’ lack of a rigorous analytical thread, but not about the absence of a strong central thesis. Kaplan is clear about his main point: we will face our current foreign policy crises better by going *Robert D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Persian Empire
    3 The Persian Empire MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW TERMS & NAMES BUILDING By governing with Leaders today try to follow the • Cyrus • satrap tolerance and wisdom, the Persian example of tolerance • Cambyses • Royal Road Persians established a well- and wise government. • Darius • Zoroaster ordered empire that lasted for 200 years. SETTING THE STAGE The Medes, along with the Chaldeans and others, helped to overthrow the Assyrian Empire in 612 B.C. The Medes marched to Nineveh from their homeland in the area of present-day northern Iran. Meanwhile, the Medes’ close neighbor to the south, Persia, began to expand its horizons and territorial ambitions. The Rise of Persia The Assyrians employed military force to control a vast empire. In contrast, the Persians based their empire on tolerance and diplomacy. They relied on a strong TAKING NOTES military to back up their policies. Ancient Persia included what today is Iran. Use the graphic organizer online to take notes The Persian Homeland Indo-Europeans first migrated from Central Europe on the similarities and and southern Russia to the mountains and plateaus east of the Fertile Crescent differences between around 1000 B.C. This area extended from the Caspian Sea in the north to the Cyrus and Darius. Persian Gulf in the south. (See the map on page 101.) In addition to fertile farm- land, ancient Iran boasted a wealth of minerals. These included copper, lead, gold, silver, and gleaming blue lapis lazuli. A thriving trade in these minerals put the settlers in contact with their neighbors to the east and the west.
    [Show full text]
  • The Achaemenid Heartland: an Archaeological-Historical Perspective 933
    CHAPTER FIFTY The Achaemenid Heartland: An Archaeological - Historical Perspective Wouter F.M. Henkelman 1 Geographical, Climatic, and Chronological Setting Though the Achaemenid heartland in a strict sense corresponds roughly to the modern Iranian province of F ā rs (ancient P ā rsa, PersV), its immediate cultural and historical context comprised parts of the provinces of Esfah ā n, Y ā zd, Kerm ā n and B ū š ehr, as well as Kh ū zest ā n, where a Neo - Elamite kingdom existed until c.540 or 520 BC . An Iranian presence was noticeable on Elam ’ s northern and eastern borders from the 7th century BC onward and Elamite culture provided a critical impulse for the early Persians (Henkelman 2008a ). When Darius I (522 – 486 BC ) transformed Susa into a principal Achaemenid residence (c.520 BC ), he confi rmed Elam ’ s special status and de facto made it part of the empire ’ s core. In fact, the bipolarity of lowland Kh ū zest ā n and highland F ā rs had characterized successive Elamite states from the 3rd millennium onward (Amiet 1979 ; Potts 1999 ; Miroschedji 2003 ; for other parts of Achaemenid Iran, see Boucharlat 2005 ). In physical terms, the area comprises the southern Zagros range of northwest– southeast - oriented valleys, ending in larger intermontane plains (the Kū r River basin, including the Marv Da š t with Persepolis); the B ū š ehr province coastal plains (and further east?); and the Kh ū zest ā n alluvial plain. As the ancient coast- line extended further northwestward than it does today, only higher Kh ū zest ā n is relevant here, roughly the area north of Ahw ā z (Gasche 2004, 2005, 2007 ; Heyvaert and Baeteman 2007 ).
    [Show full text]
  • The Royal Road of the Achaemenids Was a Major Intercontinental Thoroughfare Built by the Persian Achaemenid Dynasty King Darius the Great (521–485 BCE)
    The Royal Road of the Achaemenids was a major intercontinental thoroughfare built by the Persian Achaemenid dynasty king Darius the Great (521–485 BCE). The road network allowed Darius a way to access and maintain control over his conquered cities throughout the Persian empire. It is also, ironically enough, the same road that Alexander the Great used to conquer the Achaemenid dynasty a century and a half later. The Royal Road led from the Aegean Sea to Iran, a length of some 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers). A major branch connected the cities of Susa, Kirkuk, Nineveh, Edessa, Hattusa, and Sardis. The journey from Susa to Sardis was reported to have taken 90 days on foot, and three more to get to the Mediterranean coast at Ephesus. The journey would have been faster on horseback, and carefully placed way stations helped speed the communication network. From Susa the road connected to Persepolis and India and intersected with other road systems leading to the ancient allied and competing kingdoms of Media, Bactria, and Sogdiana. A branch from Fars to Sardis crossed the foothills of the Zagros mountains and east of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, through Kilikia and Cappadocia before reaching Sardis. Another branch led into Phyrgia. Not Just a Road Network The network might have been called the Royal "Road," but it also included rivers, canals, and trails, as well as ports and anchorages for seaborne travel. One canal built for Darius I connected the Nile to the Red Sea. An idea of the amount of traffic that the roads saw has been gleaned by ethnographer Nancy J.
    [Show full text]
  • Pre-Islamic Persia Controlled by Theocratic (And Autocratic) Forces
    Everything to Know About... PERSIA is the traditional and historical name of the region known today as modern-day IRAN. Since ancient times, Persia has remained a powerful political and cultural force in the world — especially Asia and the region of the Middle East. A major Muslim region since the 7th century, Iran has held true PERSIA to the Islamic faith for centuries. Modern-day Iran is a unique blend of traditional and modern values, though it remains staunchly Pre-Islamic Persia controlled by theocratic (and autocratic) forces. EARLY PERSIA The Persian people were originally cattle-herders from Central Asia. Like many other groups, they were INDO-EUROPEAN people (setting (2000-700 BCE) them apart from the “Semitic” Arabic peoples to their west). Fierce and nomadic warriors, these early people left Central Asia to establish themselves in modern-day Iran by about 2000 BCE. MEDIAN EMP. Through much of history, the Persians grew up alongside the MEDES, another Indo-European group to their north. By 678 BCE, the Medes (678-549 BCE) had established a major empire. In their day, they were considered to be one of the four great powers of the Ancient Middle East (Alongside the LYDIANS, the EGYPTIANS, and the CHALDEANS — or Neo-Babylonians). Major World Religion: Founded some time before the 6th century and based on the teachings of ZARATHUSTRA (or ZOROASTER), Zoroastrian- ism was the dominant religion of pre-Islamic Persia. Known to be the first MONOTHEISTIC FAITH (other than Judaism), ZOROASTRIANISM Zoroastrians believe in a single, powerful deity known as AHURA MAZDA. Ahura Mazda is the creator of all that is good and worthy to be worshipped, representing light, truth, and justice.
    [Show full text]
  • NO ROYAL ROAD Finding and Following the Natural Pathways in Advocacy Evaluation No Royal Road: Finding and Following the Natural Pathways in Advocacy Evaluation
    Jim Coe & Rhonda Schlangen Published February 2019 NO ROYAL ROAD Finding and following the natural pathways in advocacy evaluation No Royal Road: Finding and following the natural pathways in advocacy evaluation Jim Coe and Rhonda Schlangen Contents Summary iii Introduction 1 1. Accommodating uncertainty 6 2. Planning for unpredictability 16 3. Understanding contribution 25 4. Making sense of outcomes 32 5. Staying oriented on what is useful to practitioners 38 6. Evaluating more transformational advocacy 46 Practical steps for evaluators, advocacy practitioners, and funders 53 Bibliography 55 This brief was produced with support from the Center for Evaluation Innovation. Acknowledgments This paper benefitted greatly from reviewers who offered insight, encouragement, and critical questions. We are especially grateful to Irit Houvras (American Jewish World Service), Jackie Williams-Kaye (Wellspring Philanthropic Fund), Amy Arbreton (The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation), and Julia Coffman (Center for Evaluation Innovation). We are particularly indebted to the Center for Evaluation Innovation for supporting the publication of this work. Any shortcomings in the document are on the heads of the authors. No Royal Road Summary Summary There’s a tension at the heart of advocacy, and advocacy evaluation, between wanting clear answers and the inherent uncertainties around how social and political change really happens. The Greek mathematician Euclid is said to have replied to King Ptolemy’s desire for a quick route to knowledge that “There “The inherent characteristics is no Royal Road to geometry.” Like the king, we might want of advocacy make it resistant advocacy, and advocacy MEL, to be simpler and easier to navigate.
    [Show full text]
  • THE ARCHAEOLOGY of ACHAEMENID RULE in EGYPT by Henry Preater Colburn a Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requ
    THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF ACHAEMENID RULE IN EGYPT by Henry Preater Colburn A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Classical Art and Archaeology) in the University of Michigan 2014 Doctoral Committee: Professor Margaret C. Root, Chair Associate Professor Elspeth R. M. Dusinberre, University of Colorado Professor Sharon C. Herbert Associate Professor Ian S. Moyer Professor Janet E. Richards Professor Terry G. Wilfong © Henry Preater Colburn All rights reserved 2014 For my family: Allison and Dick, Sam and Gabe, and Abbie ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation was written under the auspices of the University of Michigan’s Interdepartmental Program in Classical Art and Archaeology (IPCAA), my academic home for the past seven years. I could not imagine writing it in any other intellectual setting. I am especially grateful to the members of my dissertation committee for their guidance, assistance, and enthusiasm throughout my graduate career. Since I first came to Michigan Margaret Root has been my mentor, advocate, and friend. Without her I could not have written this dissertation, or indeed anything worth reading. Beth Dusinberre, another friend and mentor, believed in my potential as a scholar well before any such belief was warranted. I am grateful to her for her unwavering support and advice. Ian Moyer put his broad historical and theoretical knowledge at my disposal, and he has helped me to understand the real potential of my work. Terry Wilfong answered innumerable questions about Egyptian religion and language, always with genuine interest and good humor. Janet Richards introduced me to Egyptian archaeology, both its study and its practice, and provided me with important opportunities for firsthand experience in Egypt.
    [Show full text]
  • Persian Wars
    Big Era Four Expanding Networks of Exchange and Encounter 1200 BCE – 500 CE Closeup Teaching Unit 4.4.2 Pressured by Persia: The Persian Empire 550 – 479 BCE Table of Contents Why this unit? 2 Unit objectives 2 Time and materials 2 Author 2 The historical context 3 This unit in the Big Era timeline 5 Lesson 1: The Persian Press 6 Lesson 2: The Second Persian War: A Series of Plays 12 Lesson 3: Geography of the Persian Wars 32 Lesson 4: Women of the Persian Empire 37 Assessment 47 This unit and the Three Essential Questions 48 This unit and the Seven Key Themes 48 This unit and the Standards in Historical Thinking 48 Resources 49 Correlations to National and State Standards 50 Conceptual links to other lessons 51 World History for Us All A project of San Diego State University In collaboration with the National Center for History in the Schools (UCLA) http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/ World History for Us All Big Era 4 Closeup 4.4.2 Why this unit? The founding of the Persian empire began with the fall of the Babylonian empire. Cyrus the Great founded the Persian state after his conquest of Babylon. During the following years under emperors Cyrus, Darius, and Xerxes, Persia steadily expanded in both Southwest Asia and Egypt. Persia’s expansion influenced various societies of Afroeurasia, such as the Jews, Greeks, and northern Africans. In teaching this unit, teachers will be able to actively engage students in the story of Persia’s development, while also deepening their knowledge of Athens, Sparta, and the Persian Wars.
    [Show full text]
  • Persian Empire (The Achaemenid Empire) POLITICAL (Persian
    Persian Empire (The Achaemenid Empire) POLITICAL (Persian Empire) ● Achaemenid clan under Cyrus The Great led a rebellion and conquered the Median clan bringing Iran under his control, and spread his empire from India to Egypt. ● 23 satrapies(Provinces) – administrative and taxation districts governed by satraps (governor). ● Each satrapy had military officers and tax collectors. Economic ● Learned the practice of using coins modeled after the Lydians, which moved the Persians from bartering to a “money economy”. ● Qanats (underground canals that allowed water to be distributed to fields without losing large quantities to evaporation due to exposure from the sun and the open air) enhanced agricultural production and population growth. ● Iron tools helped with agriculture & became the foundation of the economy. ● Religious toleration (especially under Cyrus) RELIGIOUS ● Zoroastrianism began to emerge through the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster who taught that your choices will determine you will spend life after death. ● They were monotheistic and their main god was Ahura Mazda. SOCIAL ● Diverse cultures; respected cultural traditions of the peoples they ruled ● Free classes included artisans, craftsmen, merchants, and low-ranking civil servants ● Large % of population was free individuals but did not have privileges of clan leaders and important bureaucrats. INTERACTIONS ● Darius I son of Cyrus the Great extended the empire even more by conquering ​ ​ places like India to the east, Egypt to the west, and Armenia to the North. ● Alexander the Great invaded and dissolved the Persian Empire, destroyed Persepolis, but proclaimed himself the legitimate successor of the Achaemenids. ARTS ● Persian Royal Road stretched for 1,600 miles which aided in trade and communication.
    [Show full text]
  • Tim Ortopan NEH Lesson Plan
    Tim Ortopan NEH Lesson Plan: Central Asian in World History Conflict in the Classical World: Persians and Scythians Materials and Time: Lesson should take about one class period to complete. All materials are included here Objectives: Students will gain an understanding of the basic features that distinguish an early civilization from a classical civilization. Students will learn about the political, social, and cultural features of the Persian Empire Students will practice skills of dealing with material documents and archeological evidence of the Scythian people. Anticipatory Set: The lesson will open with a class discussion of features of classical civilization hitting topics discussing issues related to complexity of structures. The discussion will be based on the reading “Cities and Civilization” by Kevin Reilly. Instructional Input: See next page for lecture notes dealing with the Persian Empire. After the lecture the class will be handed out the practice DBQ dealing with the Scythian material culture. Basic Students will be asked to complete the DBQ in small groups turning in one written piece per group. A short review of the artifacts will conclude this portion. Check for Understanding: While students are working in groups I will confirm that they understand the assignment and how to analyze archeological evidence. The completed assignment can also be used for this end. Closure: There will be a discussion of types of sources and how we use archeological evidence in historical writing. Students will also be asked to consider the limitations of physical evidence in contrast with documentary evidence. Persia Notes I. The rise and fall of the Persian Empire A.
    [Show full text]