Geography, Topography and Resources of the Persian Empire

Geography

Different regions that make up Persian Empire

Persian Empire consisted of:

  • Egypt + Libya in Africa
  • Thrace in Europe in the north Aegean
  • Lydian empire of Asia Minor (Modern Turkey)
  • Babylonian + Assyrian empires
  • East of the heartland which included Afghanistan and Bactria
  • Heart of the Persian Empire was the Iranian plateau
  • Ecbatana, Susa, Pasargadae & Persepolis were the main capitals of the Persian Empire

Persia was divided into Satrapies. These were governed by a Persian or Median satrap

Resources

Human Resources

Persians and Medes were the core of the Persian Empire + did not pay taxes

46 nationalities lived within the empire and contributed to Xerxes' army and navy during Persian Wars.
They paid tribute to the Persian king every year

Nationalities included:

  • Egyptians
  • Phoenicians
  • Lydians
  • Ionians
  • Bactrians

Darius organised the 46 nationalities into satrapies to develop the Persian administration

Areas controlled by the Persian King are listed on the Behistan Rock (Garrison - Persepolis)


Record of Xerxes' rule

Physical Resources

Horses were bred in the cooler plateau to supply the Persian cavalry

  • Persians controlled wealthy crop-land in the river valleys e.g. the Nile
  • Grazing pastures (sheep and goats)
  • Building resources from mountains (oak and walnut wood + quarried stone)

The Persian Empire included vast material resources e.g. minerals and timber

Evidence

Thucydides

  • Wrote about The Peloponnesian War (Athens vs Sparta)
  • Wrote about events during 479 - 431 BCE (Persia under Xerxes + Artaxerxes I)
  • Most reliable: careful w/ his sources

Behistan Inscription of Darius I

Column 1:

  • Family background, connection to Achaemenids
  • Satrapies + suppression of revolts (Elam and Babylon)
  • He was aided to the throne by Ahura-Mazda

Column 2:

  • Capture of Babylon + Defeat of revolts in Elam, Media, Armenia, Sargartia, Parthia & Hyrcania

Column 3:

  • Defeat of revolts
  • Account of the defeat of Gaumata and his followers

Column 4:

  • Victorious in 19 battles in one year (521 BC)
  • Names his supporters and asks that future kings take good care of their families
  • Requests that the inscription is not destroyed and that copies are made on clay tablets and parchment

Column 5:

  • Covers 2nd and 3rd year of his reign
  • Elam and Scythia rebelled but were defeated
  • Claims that Elam and Scythia did not worship Ahura-Mazda

Modern Historians

  • Amelie Kurht
  • Pierre Briant
  • Margaret Root
  • Heleen Sancisi-Weerdenburg

Argued that Persian history suffered the Greek bias/interpretations of Persian history.
Focused more on Persian sources which challenge the view of the Persian decline
Acknowledge the incredible cultural record. Persian Empire thought to be better governed and more resilient than previously thought.