The Persian Empire
Lance, Max,Fruity, Mason
Social: In Persia you were born into something and that was really hard to get out of. It is much like the Indian Caste System. Social life was very entertaining in the Persian Empire because people had ways to entertain themselves. They would often play games. If you are rich in the persian empire you will probably belong to a much higher social class such as military or trader. If you are poor you probably belong to the lowest social classes which are farmers and slaves. Women in persia are important and experience large amount of equality in almost all aspect of life. Outsiders were normally allowed by the persian empires to continue with their own beliefs and backgrounds.
State Building: Persia was run by kings and allowed the satrapy system. This system was an administrative group. Persian kings claimed the title of “The king of Kings” and demanded total obedience. The persians standardized weights, had official coinage, and implemented universal laws. The persians themselves paid no taxes. The persians divided their empire into 20 provinces. Each one was governed by a satrap.
Culture: The Persian Empire was one of the first empires to practice religious beliefs to the people that they conquered. They also practiced cultural tolerance to the people that were conquered. The Persian Kings were Zoroastrians. Zoroastrianism was the religion the whole time that the Persian Empire existed. Their god was Ahura Mazda. Achaemenidian made monumental palaces and royal cities. Sculptures were found in palaces and in routes within the empire. Columns were also very popular in Persian Empire.
Environment
Major Cities: Babylon (main capital), Persepolis, Pasargadae, Ecbatana, and Susa.
-Persepolis was near the small river Pulvar.
-Babylon was the main capital
-Windmills were believed to have originated in Persia
-Persian Empire had mines, and were believed to have dug a mine underneath the wall in order to enter the city.
-Persians had also made batteries.
-Persians made qanats, qanats carried water to dry places in an area.
-Its mountains have helped to shape both the political and the economic history of the country for several centuries. The mountains enclose several broad basins, or plateaus, on which major agricultural and urban settlements are located. There are no major river systems in the country, and historically transportation was by means of caravans that followed routes traversing gaps and passes in the mountains. The mountains also impeded easy access to the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea.
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Economics: Used standardized gold and silver coins throughout the civilization which promoted trade. Made it easier for foreigners to abide by the system. Resources of the land included gold, copper, lead, silver, and blue lapis lazuli. Wool was a major trade item. Pearls could only be found in this region which made them very valuable. There was very fertile land which caused crops to sometimes overgrow and there would be too many. They would then trade them to neighboring civilizations with less land. They had a social hierarchy. Kings and the Royal Family, Priests, Aristocracy, Military people, Traders, Craftsmen, Peasants, Slaves. The money in Persia is mainly silver and brass. Very little gold in the terms of money. Persia was rich enough to finance the wars between rival city-states like Greece. There was always enough Persian gold on offer to convince them to could go back to war. Skilled labor would be like craftsmen, artisans, and priests. The craftsmen include metal smiths, stone cutting, fishermen,weavers, sailors, bricklayers, farmers, shepherds, and leather-workers. Artisans specialized in pottery. The farmers would be in control of the food production.