Handout 4.3 "Persia Controls Southwest Asia"

Anatolia

also called Asia Minor; part of present-day Turkey

toleration

allowing people to keep their customs and beliefs

province

a territory governed as a political district of a country or empire

satrap

A governor of a province in ancient Persia

Royal Road

A road for the government use built by the ancient Persian ruler Darius which helped unite the empire

What was the land of the Persians like?

isolated by mountain ranges; many people lived on a high plateau

How did the presence of nomadic tribes affect Persia?

they created many tiny kingdoms that thrived through trade

Cyrus the Great

king of Persia and founder of the Persian empire (circa 600-529 BC)

How did Cyrus treat the people he conquered?

He was fair and kind

Why was Cyrus' policy of toleration beneficial?

it showed that ruling with tolerance brought peace

Who led the Persian Empire after Cyrus the Great?

Darius

Why did Darius divide the empire into provinces?

it had grown too large

How did Darius control the Persian empire?

-He divided it into provinces, which were ruled by satraps.

-He sent out spies to make sure satraps followed his orders

-He set up a code of law

How were Cyrus and Darius similar?

-both added people and land to the empire

-both were fair and tolerant

- both set up systems that helped them control an empire

Why did the Royal Road and minted coins help Darius unite the empire?

They promoted business and made it easy to pay taxes

Mesopotamian Empires (In Order)

1. Akkadian

2. Babylonian

3. Assyrian

4. Chaldean

5. Persian