The Assyrians & the PersiansSmall Kingdoms & Mighty Empires

Guiding Questions

What’s the difference between a kingdom & an empire?

How did the Assyrians create and manage an empire?

How did the Persians create and manage an empire?

Kingdoms v. Empires

Kingdoms Homogenous population Usually a smaller area Easier to manage directly

Empires Diverse populations Large area Harder to manage people directly Usually requires decentralized control

The Assyrians

The Assyrians

Large military power Defeated kingdom of Israel in 722 BCE

Appointed rulers over conquered territories Swift and brutal punishment for rebellions Major weakness: neighbors also adopted brutal

military tactics

The Persians

Cyrus the Great (~600-530 BCE) Decentralized control

Local governors

Persian Royal Road Zoroastrianism…

Zoroastrianism Two (sort of…) gods locked in an

eternal battle Ahura Mazda (House of Song) =

good Ariman (House of Worst Thought)

= bad

Humans choose which side to join… both sides attempt to persuade you

Ahura Mazda destined to win, a Day of Judgment

Teacher of religion = prophet Zoroaster

Today: 145,000 to 2.6 million members of religion