Professor Tim Greenwood
Introduction
A comparative exercise
Impact
Political Culture (Emperor and Shahanshah)
Geography, resources, neighbours
History (conflict and engagement)
Cultural memory
Urbanism (Capitals and the built environment)
Expressions of Statehood (Seals, coins, law)
Conclusion
East Roman Empire: Predominantly Christian, fusion of Roman imperialism with Christianity.
Sasanian Iran: Zoroastrian elite, diverse communities (Christian, Jewish).
Characterized by coexistence and cooperation within specific boundaries.
Equal power, different characteristics: potential bias from surviving sources.
Late Sasanian finds beyond empire's borders; research by Dr. Caitlin Green (2017).
Example artifacts: Coin of Khusro II found in Anglesey, glass bowl from Japan.
Plotted distribution; examples include coins found in Maldives and South Korea.
Capitals: Constantinople (East Roman) and Ctesiphon (Sasanian).
Challenge in assessing Sasanian urbanism due to lack of contemporary sources.
Emperor vs Shahanshah (King of Kings).
Dynasticism: key figures like Constantine I and Ardashir I, focus on patrilineal descent.
Monumental inscriptions, e.g., Shapuhr I's rock relief, indicating divine descent claims.
Roman: Constructed identity varying by legal, political, and religious features.
Eran: Follower of the Good religion (Zoroastrian); Aneran: non-believers.
Roman Empire: Expansion focusing on Egypt under Justinian (527-565).
Sasanian Iran: Key infrastructures like the Nahrawan canal and defenses against nomadic threats.
Significant conflicts with groups such as the Huns and Hephthalites.
Historical interactions characterized by warfare but also attempts at peace and diplomacy, exemplified by correspondence between Persian and Roman leaders.
Challenges of administrative records noted; reliance on seals, coins, and laws.
Examples of coins and seals highlight administrative practices.
Both empires displayed unique administrative and cultural structures, illustrating diverse approaches to governance, resource management, commerce, and urban development.
Distinct heritages and ideologies shaped their legacies.