p1ch7states

Name: James Bennett

 * **Themes** || **How does this theme apply to your civilization?** ||
 * Political Structures and forms of governance || * The Achaemenids had a centralized government located in Persepolis.
 * Their empire was divided into twenty-three Satrapies, or administrative and taxation districts governed by satraps. Each Satrapy was headed by a satrap from the imperial government, while each position below him was occupied by locals.
 * In order to communicate with the far reaches of their empire, the Persians created roads and a courier service.
 * Also, in an effort to improve administrative efficiency Darius, the greatest of Achaemenid emperors, issued standardized coins, required an annual tax from each satrapy, and had legal experts study and codify the laws of his subject peoples. ||
 * Empires || * The Persian civilization had four great empires...
 * The Achaemenid (558-331B.C.E.)
 * The Seleucid (323-83 B.C.E.)
 * The Parthian (247B.C.E.)
 * The Sasanid (224-651C.E.) ||
 * Nations and nationalism || * After the fall of the Babylonian and Assyian empires, a man named Cyrus launched the Persian's imperial venture and his conquests laid the political foundation of the Achaemenid empire.
 * The greatest of Achaemenid emperors, Darius, vastly expanded the empire and created a new capital at Persepolis, which served as the nerve center of the Achaemenid empire.
 * His successor, Xerxes, was not as great of an administrator as he. Xerxes did not impose a policy of toleration on his subjects. He flaunted his Persian identity and promoted Zoroastrianism. By doing this he greatly angered his people and caused trouble later emperors.
 * In 331B.C.E Alexander of Macedon shattered the Achaemenid empire and took control. However, he portrayed himself as the Achaemenid successor and kept their forms of governance. He was unfortunately unable to enjoy the fruits of this empire very long because he died in 323B.C.E.
 * After Alexander died, his chief generals carved up his empire into three sections. A man named Seleucus gained control of Persia, giving rise to the Seleucid empire.
 * In 247B.C.E the Parthian satrapy revolted and the Parthians established themselves as lords of a powerful empire based in Iran that extended into Mesopotamia.
 * In 224C.E. the Sasanids toppled the Parthians and ruled using Achaemenid administrative techniques until Muslim conquerors ended them in 651C.E. ||
 * Revolts and revolutions || * The Achaemenids had an especially hard time with their Greek subjects, and efforts to control them helped to bring about the collapse of the Achaemenid empire.
 * In 500B.C.E. the Ionian Greek cities rebelled against the Persian "tyrants". Their rebellion launched a series of conflicts known as the Persian Wars (500-479B.C.E.) ||
 * Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations || * The Achaemenids created roads and issued standardized coins, both of which helped to enhance and aid trade.
 * Trade flourished especially under the rule of the Seleucids, mainly because of the establishment of many new cities, which greatly stimulated trade.
 * The courier service, roads, standardized coins, and taxes helped to link and unite the vast Persian empire. ||
 * The courier service, roads, standardized coins, and taxes helped to link and unite the vast Persian empire. ||