Key Authority figures

What period did the Achaemenid Persian Empire exist?

 550–330 BCE.

Who founded the Achaemenid Empire?

Cyrus the Great.

Who did Cyrus the Great claim descent from?

Achaemenes, a minor ruler of Anshan. 

How did Cyrus the Great establish the Persian Empire?

Through military conquest and expansion.

Who were the rulers in the royal bloodline before and after Cyrus the Great?

Cyrus I then Cambyses I then Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great) then Cambyses II.

Who ruled briefly after Cambyses II died?

Bardiya, who was either the genuine son of Cyrus or, according to Darius, an imposter named Gaumata.

Who seized power after Bardiya?

Darius I.

How did the Achaemenid kings govern such a large empire?

They developed a complex administrative system and generally adopted a policy of tolerance toward conquered peoples.

What happened to the Persian Empire after Xerxes I?

It entered a period of slow decline.

Who was the final Achaemenid king?

Darius III.

How did the Achaemenid Empire end?

Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE.

Was Darius I a direct descendant of Cyrus the Great?

No. He came from a collateral branch of the royal family and claimed descent from Achaemenes.

What type of ruler was the Persian king?

The absolute ruler of the empire.

Where was political authority centred in the Persian Empire?

In the king.

What areas of authority did the king control?

Political, legal and military matters.

Over whom did the Persian king exercise authority?

The subject peoples of the empire.

Which god did Achaemenid kings claim gave them authority to rule?

Ahuramazda.

Who was Ahuramazda?

The supreme god and protector/patron of the Persian kings.

How did Persian kings view themselves under the guidance of Ahuramazda?

 As wise and morally upright leaders of their people.

Did Persian kings claim to be divine?

No. They claimed to rule with the sanction of Ahuramazda, rather than claiming to be gods themselves.

Was Darius I directly descended from Cyrus the Great?

No

What was Darius' relationship to the royal family?

He belonged to a collateral branch of the royal family.

Who was on the throne when Darius seized power?

Bardiya.

Who did Darius claim Bardiya actually was?

Gaumata, a Magi/priest who had impersonated Bardiya.

 What source records Darius' version of his rise to power?

The Behistun Inscription.

How did Darius justify taking the throne?

 He claimed he was restoring the throne to the rightful Achaemenid line.

What did Darius do to strengthen his claim to power?

He suppressed revolts early in his reign to demonstrate his authority.

Who did Darius marry to strengthen his connection to the Achaemenid royal family?

Atossa, daughter of Cyrus the Great.

Why was Darius' marriage to Atossa politically useful?

It strengthened his legitimacy and connection to the royal bloodline.

What two characteristics described Achaemenid political structure?

It was feudal and patriarchal.

To whom did the king delegate property and privilege?

Trusted male members of the royal family, nobles and other chosen individuals.

Which groups commonly held high positions in the Persian elite?

Medes and Persians, along with other trusted individuals.

 How did marriage alliances strengthen the Persian political system?

Marriages between the royal family and nobility created networks based on mutual loyalty and support.

What did the king provide to loyal nobles?

Power, support and rewards.

What did nobles provide in return?

 Loyalty and service to the king.

 Who acted as counsellors and advisers to the king?

Members of the royal court.

How were members of the king's court ranked?

According to merit.

What rewards could the king give for loyalty and service?

Land, clothing and jewellery.

How can the wealth/status of Persian nobles be seen archaeologically?

Palace reliefs from Susa and Persepolis show nobles wearing rich robes and jewellery.

Who were considered the Persian people within Persian society?

The Aryan/Persian population, including the king and court, priests, warriors, scribes/artisans and peasants.

Who were the "peoples of the Empire"?

The conquered nations subject to Persian rule.

Give examples of peoples conquered by the Persian Empire.

Medes, Babylonians, Assyrians and Egyptians.

What was the key distinction between Persian society and subject peoples?

Persians formed the core ruling population, while conquered peoples were subjects of the empire.

How did the Persian concept of kingship develop?

It developed alongside the expansion of the empire.

How does Achaemenid art generally portray the king?

 As a peaceful ruler and administrator, rather than primarily as a conquering warrior.

How did Persian kings generally treat foreign religions?

They were generally tolerant of foreign cults and did not force Persian beliefs on conquered peoples.

 What three major areas were central to Persian kingship?

Military, religious and political authority.

Why was religious tolerance useful to Persian kings?

It helped them maintain stability across a culturally and religiously diverse empire.

 Who was at the top of the Persian ruling hierarchy?

The King.

Who were the royal princes?

Members of the royal family who formed part of the ruling elite.

Which groups could be included among the Persian nobles?

Persians, Medes and non-Persians.

Who were the king's bow-bearer and spear-bearer?

Members of the royal family or high-ranking courtiers.

Who else could be part of the Persian royal court?

Important non-Persians, eunuchs, women, royal wives and princesses.

When did the Persian army develop significantly?

During the campaigns of Cyrus the Great.

Which earlier military tradition influenced the Persian army?

The Assyrian military tradition.

Who was the supreme commander of the Persian army?

The king.

What was the main component of the early Persian army?

Infantry.

Who were the Sparabara?

 Persian archers who carried a large body shield called a spara.

What was the largest standard unit of the Persian army?

A division of 10,000 men.

What did the Greeks call a 10,000-man Persian division?

A myriad.

What was the elite division personally associated with the king?

The 10,000 Immortals.

Why were the elite troops called the "Immortals"?

Because their number was always maintained at 10,000.

Who were the Arstibara?

The king's spear-bearers, made up of members of the Persian nobility.

How did the Arstibara demonstrate their high status?

They wore gold bracelets and elaborately decorated clothing.

How many regiments made up a myriad?

10 regiments.

 How many men were in each regiment?

1,000 men.

What was a 1,000-man regiment called?

A hazarabam

Who commanded a hazarabam?

A hazarapatis, or commander of a thousand.

What was the smallest unit of the Persian army?

The dathabam.

How many men were in a dathabam?

10 men.

Who commanded a dathabam?

The dathapatis.

What position did the dathapatis occupy in battle?

He was stationed in the front rank carrying the spara.

How did Persian infantry generally compare with Greek hoplites?

They were rarely a match for heavily armed Greek hoplite phalanxes in close combat.

How did the Persian army increase its numbers?

 By conscripting infantry from subject peoples.

Who commanded units made up of subject peoples?

A Persian nobleman appointed by the king.

Why was using subject peoples useful to Persia?

It allowed Persia to draw on the large populations and resources of its vast empire.

 What was the most important addition to the Persian army?

cavalry

Which people were considered the finest horsemen in Asia?

The Medes.

What role did the Medes play in the Persian army?

They formed the elite/core of the cavalry

Which other people were added to the Persian cavalry after Cyrus' conquests?

Lydian cavalry.

Why did Cyrus value cavalry?

Because of their mobility.

Who else provided cavalry contingents?

The Persian nobility.

Did the Persian Empire originally possess its own navy?

No

How did Persia obtain naval power?

It relied on the navies of maritime peoples it conquered.

Which three groups formed the core of the Persian navy?

Phoenicians, Egyptians and Ionians.

Who staffed the Persian fleets?

Marines and sailors from subject states, along with some Persian sailors.

What was a satrap?

A Persian governor of a province.

What was a satrapy?

A province of the Persian Empire.

Who appointed the satraps?

The Persian king.

Who were usually appointed as satraps?

Members of the royal family or Persian nobility.

What was the main role of a satrap?

To administer their province on behalf of the king.

What were three major responsibilities of a satrap?

Collect taxes, administer justice and provide troops for the army.

What position did a satrap hold in the province's legal system?

He was the supreme judicial authority.

What did satraps receive in return for their service?

The protection and wealth/affluence of the Persian Empire.

Did Persia completely replace the political systems of conquered peoples?

No. Persian structures often worked alongside existing local systems.

Why is this tolerant approach considered effective?

 It helped provide stability across the diverse empire.

Which earlier administrative systems influenced Cyrus' satrapy system?

Assyrian and Median systems.

What did Cyrus the Great do with these systems?

He adopted and refined them.

How long could satraps remain in office?

They could rule for life unless they offended the emperor.

What made the satrap position potentially dangerous for the king?

Satraps controlled huge territories and resources, giving them the potential to rebel.