Empire of Ancient Persia

• ISBN13: 9781604131567
• ISBN10: 160413156X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-11-01
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

When Cyrus the Great united the Persians in ca.550 B.C.E, he began a 1,200-year period of Persia dominance in an area that stretched from the Black Sea into Central Asia, from India to Egypt, and along the Fringes of southern Europe. Under three successive dynasties-the Achaemenids, Parthians, and Sassanians-the Persians demonstrated their talents for architecture and art by building impressive palaces and creating elaborately decorated pottery. One of the first peoples to worship a single god, their religion, Zoroastrianism, would greatly influence the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Empires of Ancient Persia looks at the rise and fall of the Persian empires, the daily life of their peoples, and their influence on subsequent civilizations.

Author Biography

Michael Burgan has written more than 200 books, including Buddhist Faith in America (for Chelsea House), Cold War, and Colonial and Revolutionary Times. He has also written biographies of former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, astronaut John Glenn, various U.S. presidents, and several scientists and explorers.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 7
History
The First Persian Empire	p. 19
The Achaemenid Empire at Its Largest	p. 35
The New Persian Empires	p. 55
Society and Culture
Politics and Society in the Persian Empires	p. 75
Living and Working in the Persian Empires	p. 93
Persian Art, Science, and Culture	p. 111
Epilogue	p. 127
Time Line	p. 140
Glossary	p. 141
Bibliography	p. 143
Further Resources	p. 147
Picture Credits	p. 150
Index	p. 151
About the Author	p. 159
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

For almost 1,200 years, the Persians ruled a territory that stretched from the Black Sea into Central Asia, from India to Egypt and into the fringes of southern Europe. During that period from 550BCEto 651CE, the ancient Persians learned to cultivate crops such as wheat and barley and to domesticate animals; they also demonstrated their talents for architecture and art by building enormous palaces, such as at the site of Persepolis, and through intricate art painted on pottery. As their neighbors, particularly the Macedonian prince Alexander the Great, grew stronger, ancient Persia struggled to maintain its authority. Despite their eventual decline, the Persian empires had significant influence on the ancient world, including the idea of worshipping a single god. As the first monotheistic religion, Zoroastrianism would lay the foundation for the development of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.Empires of Ancient Persialooks at the rise and fall of the Persian empires, the daily life of the people, and their influence on subsequent civilizations.

---

Excerpted from Empire of Ancient Persia by Michael Burgan
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.