Cyrus the Great establishes the Achaemenid Empire | World History | Khan Academy
TLDRThe video script provides an in-depth look into the rise and expansion of the Persian Empire, starting with the Median Empire in the 6th century BCE. It highlights the pivotal role of Cyrus the Great, who overthrew the Median emperor and established the first Persian Empire, known as the Achaemenid Dynasty. The script explores the empire's territorial conquests, including the Lydian Empire and the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and Cyrus's significance in freeing the Jews and rebuilding Jerusalem. It also delves into the empire's governance through satraps and the cultural impact of Zoroastrianism. The narrative continues with the reigns of Cambyses, Darius the Great, and the subsequent rulers, leading up to the empire's eventual conquest by Alexander the Great and the rise of the Seleucid and Parthian Empires. The script emphasizes the empire's vastness, its control over a significant portion of the world's population, and the historical accounts from the perspective of the Greeks, who were both rivals and chroniclers of the Persian Empire.
Takeaways
- 🏺 The Median Empire was the dominant power in the region now known as Iran before being overthrown by the Persians in the 6th century BCE.
- 🌟 Cyrus the Great, king of Pars, overthrew the Median emperor (his grandfather) in 550/549 BCE and established the first Persian Empire, known as the Achaemenid Dynasty.
- 👑 The term 'Persian' comes from Pars, the region from which Cyrus the Great hailed, though the Persians identified more with the term 'Aryan'.
- 🎯 Cyrus the Great expanded his empire significantly, conquering the Lydian Empire and the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and is historically recognized as a benevolent ruler.
- ⛪️ Cyrus the Great's conquest of Babylon led to the release of the Jews from captivity and his support in rebuilding Jerusalem and Solomon's Temple.
- 🌍 At its height under Darius the Great in 500 BCE, the Persian Empire was the largest empire in the world, controlling nearly half of the world's population.
- 🔍 The historical accounts of Cyrus the Great and the early Persian rulers are primarily sourced from the Greeks, who were rivals, which may bias the historical narrative.
- ⚔️ Cambyses, the son of Cyrus the Great, succeeded his father and conquered Egypt in 525 BCE, integrating it into the Persian Empire.
- 🏰 Darius the Great, not a direct descendant of Cyrus, came to power after a period of uncertainty and claimed the throne by discrediting a pretender to the throne.
- 🏺 The Achaemenid Dynasty is known for its architectural marvels, with capitals established at Pasargadae by Cyrus, Susa by Cambyses, and Persepolis by Darius the Great.
- ⏳ The Achaemenid Dynasty ended with the conquest of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great, leading to a period of Greek and later Seleucid rule in Persia.
- 📜 The Persian Empire was administered through a system of satraps, local governors who ruled over designated regions known as satrapies, allowing for effective control of the vast territories.
Q & A
Who was the dominant power in the region now referred to as Iran during the sixth century BCE?
-The dominant power in the region now referred to as Iran during the sixth century BCE was the Median Empire.
Which Persian king overthrew the Median Empire and established the first Persian Empire?
-Cyrus the Great overthrew the Median Empire and established the first Persian Empire.
What was the name of the dynasty established by Cyrus the Great?
-The dynasty established by Cyrus the Great was called the Achaemenid Dynasty.
Why is the Persian Empire named after the Persians and not after Cyrus the Great?
-The Persian Empire is named after the Persians because Cyrus the Great was from Pars, and 'Persian' refers to the idea that the ruling dynasty was coming from Pars.
How did Cyrus the Great view his own identity in terms of ethnicity?
-Cyrus the Great viewed himself more as part of the Aryan people, and terms like Eran, Iran, or Arianum of Asia are more accurate for how the Persians, including Cyrus, viewed themselves.
Which major empire did Cyrus the Great conquer in the mid-540's BCE?
-Cyrus the Great conquered the Lydian Empire in the mid-540's BCE.
What significant event occurred when Cyrus the Great conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE?
-When Cyrus the Great conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire, he freed the Jews from the Babylonian captivity, resettled them in Jerusalem, and worked with them to rebuild the city and Solomon's Temple, known as the Second Temple.
Who succeeded Cyrus the Great as the shahanshah of the Persian Empire?
-Cambyses II succeeded Cyrus the Great as the shahanshah of the Persian Empire.
In which year did Cambyses II conquer Egypt, and what was the significance of this event?
-Cambyses II conquered Egypt in 525 BCE, ending thousands of years of rule by the native pharaohs and incorporating Egypt into the Persian Empire.
Who was Darius the Great and how did he come to power?
-Darius the Great was a distant relative of Cyrus the Great and part of the Achaemenid dynasty. He came to power in 522 BCE after orchestrating the removal of a claimant to the throne, who was either the real or a fake Bardiya, and consolidating support from the Persian nobility.
What was the population of the Persian Empire at its maximum extent under Darius the Great?
-The population of the Persian Empire at its maximum extent under Darius the Great was on the order of 50 million people, which was nearly half of the world's population at that time.
What was the significance of the satrapies and satraps in the administration of the Persian Empire?
-The satrapies and satraps were significant in the administration of the Persian Empire as they represented the delegation of authority by the central government. Each region had its own governor, or satrap, who was responsible for local governance, allowing the empire to manage its vast territories more effectively.
Outlines
🏛️ The Rise of the Persian Empire
The first paragraph outlines the historical context of the Persian Empire's rise in the 6th century BCE. It begins with the Median Empire as the dominant power in the region now known as Iran. Cyrus the Great, king of Pars, overthrows the Median emperor (his grandfather) and establishes the Persian Empire, also known as the Achaemenid Dynasty. Cyrus is noted for his conquests, including the Lydian Empire and the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and his policy of freeing the Jews from Babylonian captivity. The paragraph also touches on the Persians' self-identification as Aryans and the semi-legendary lineage from Achaemenes.
👑 Power Struggles and the Reign of Darius the Great
The second paragraph delves into the power struggles following Cyrus the Great's death. His son, Cambyses II, takes over and conquers Egypt, ending the rule of native pharaohs. However, his absence from the empire's center leads to a power vacuum and the rise of a claimant to the throne, purported to be Bardiya, Cyrus's other son. Darius, a distant relative and not a direct descendant of Cyrus, rises to power after eliminating the claimant to the throne, whether real or fake. Darius the Great expands the empire significantly, and his reign is marked by the empire reaching nearly half of the world's population. The paragraph also mentions the Greco-Persian Wars and the historical accounts from the Greek perspective.
🌐 The Achaemenid Dynasty and the Spread of Zoroastrianism
The third paragraph discusses the continuation of the Achaemenid Dynasty after Darius the Great, with several rulers named Xerxes, Artaxerxes, and various Darius. It highlights the establishment of capitals by Cyrus and his successors, including Pasargadae, Susa, and Persepolis. The paragraph also covers the end of the Achaemenid Dynasty with the conquest by Alexander the Great and the subsequent Seleucid Empire. The role of satraps in governing the vast empire is explained, and the paragraph concludes with the mention of Cyrus the Great's influence in spreading the Zoroastrian faith.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Median Empire
💡Cyrus the Great
💡Achaemenid Dynasty
💡Persians
💡Neo-Babylonian Empire
💡Cambyses II
💡Darius the Great
💡Zoroastrian faith
💡Satraps and Satrapies
💡Greco-Persian Wars
💡Seleucid Empire
Highlights
The Median Empire was the dominant power in the region now known as Iran during the sixth century BCE.
The Persians, led by Cyrus the Great, overthrew the Median Empire and established the first Persian Empire in 550/549 BCE.
Cyrus the Great was from Pars, which is why the empire is referred to as Persian, despite the Persians viewing themselves as Aryan people.
Cyrus claimed descent from Achaemenes, leading to the name Achaemenid Dynasty for the ruling dynasty.
Cyrus the Great conquered the Lydian Empire and the Neo-Babylonian Empire, including freeing the Jews from Babylonian captivity.
Cyrus the Great is historically viewed as a model ruler who took the interests of his people to heart.
Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, succeeded him and conquered Egypt in 525 BCE, expanding the Persian Empire.
The death of Cambyses led to a power vacuum and the rise of a claimed usurper, possibly Bardiya or a fake named Gaumata.
Darius, a distant relative of Cyrus, eventually seized power after the death of the alleged usurper, becoming Darius the Great.
Under Darius the Great, the Persian Empire reached its maximum extent, controlling nearly half of the world's population at the time.
Darius the Great is known for initiating the Greco-Persian Wars after Greek city-states revolted against Persian rule.
The history of Cyrus the Great and the early Persian rulers is primarily sourced from the Greeks, who were rivals of the Persians.
The Achaemenid Dynasty continued with rulers named Xerxes, Artaxerxes, and various Darius, leading to some confusion over the timeline.
Key cities of the Persian Empire included Pasargadae, Susa, and Persepolis, each serving as a capital during different reigns.
The end of the Achaemenid Dynasty came with the conquests of Alexander the Great, leading to a period of Hellenistic rule.
After Alexander's death, most of the Persian Empire came under the control of Seleucus, forming the Seleucid Empire.
The Parthian Empire eventually rose to power, becoming a significant rival to the Roman Empire.
The Achaemenid rulers, including Cyrus, were known for delegating authority to regional governors known as satraps.
Cyrus the Great is credited with spreading the Zoroastrian faith, which was significant in ancient Persia.
Transcripts
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