The Persian Empire Explained in 9 Minutes

Summary

This video challenges the Eurocentric narrative that history is written by the victors, highlighting the progressive nature of the Persian Empire. It emphasizes Cyrus the Great's policies of religious tolerance and the empire's contributions to trade, culture, and human rights. The script also discusses the decline of the empire due to costly wars and its lasting influence on subsequent civilizations, including the Islamic Golden Age, urging a broader view of history that acknowledges Persia's significant role in human progress.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Persian Empire was not just defeated by the Greeks but was also a highly civilized society, possibly more so than the Greeks by modern standards.
• 🏺 Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, was known for his light touch in governance, promoting religious tolerance and mercy.
• 🌐 The empire Cyrus founded was vast, stretching from the Balkans to India's Indus Valley and into Africa's Nile valley.
• 🔄 Cyrus introduced a new way of managing an empire by adopting the best elements of conquered territories without imposing Persian culture.
• 🕍 The Cyrus Cylinder is an artifact that symbolizes Cyrus's beliefs in overthrowing tyranny and is considered the first charter of human rights by the UN.
• 🌟 Darius the Great expanded the empire and introduced standardization in currency, weights, measurements, and language.
• 🛣️ Darius also built roads and transport networks that facilitated trade and commerce, creating wealthy merchants.
• 🙏 Zoroastrianism, the Persian monotheistic religion, forbade slavery and influenced the empire's moral and cultural norms.
• 👩‍💼 Women in Persian society had more liberty than Greek women, being able to own property and hold high positions.
• 🎨 The Achaemenid Empire was a period of cultural excellence, with Persians excelling in rock carving, metalwork, and carpet-weaving.
• 📉 The decline of the Persian Empire began with costly wars, including a failed invasion of Greece under Xerxes I and subsequent financial struggles.
• 🏰 The legacy of the Persian Empire persisted through later dynasties and influenced Islamic Golden Age and modern-day Iran.

Q & A

What is the common adage about history mentioned in the script?

The common adage mentioned is 'history is written by the victors'.

How did the Persian Empire contribute to the Greek golden age?

The script suggests that the defeat of the totalitarian Persian Empire by the democratic Greeks led to a Greek golden age, which is considered the dawning of governing principles of Western civilization.

What is the distortion in the narrative of the Persian Empire according to the script?

The distortion lies in the portrayal of the Persians as uncivilized, when in fact they were civilized, promoting religious tolerance, mercy, and had innovations in commerce and public works.

Who was Cyrus the Great and what was his approach to leadership?

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the first stage of the Persian Empire, known as the Achaemenid Empire. His leadership approach was characterized by not imposing cultural hegemony, promoting religious tolerance, and mercy.

What is the significance of the 'Cyrus Cylinder'?

The 'Cyrus Cylinder' is an artifact inscribed with Cyrus the Great's beliefs of overthrowing tyranny, and is described by the UN as the 'first charter of human rights.'

What was Darius the Great's contribution to the Persian Empire?

Darius the Great contributed to the empire by introducing standardized currency, weight, and measurement systems, and by building roads and transport networks that allowed trade and commerce to flourish.

How did the Persian Empire's approach to conquered territories differ from the Greek society's?

The Persian Empire adopted the best elements of conquered territories and did not impose Persian culture, whereas Greek society was based on slavery.

What was the religion practiced by the Persians and how did it influence society?

The Persians practiced Zoroastrianism, a monotheistic religion that introduced the concept of good vs evil and forbade slavery.

How did women's rights in Persian society compare to those in Greek society?

Women in Persian society had more liberty than their Greek counterparts, being able to manage businesses, hold high positions, and own property.

What was the impact of the Persian Empire's culture on subsequent empires?

The Persian Empire provided a blueprint for a well-managed land-based empire, influencing many subsequent emperors around the world.

What factors led to the decline of the Achaemenid Empire?

The decline was triggered by a failed invasion of Greece under Xerxes I, followed by an expensive defense of Persia's lands, leading to financial strain and heavier taxes.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Distorted Narrative of Persian and Greek Civilizations

This paragraph challenges the common narrative that Greek civilization was more advanced than Persian due to their victory in wars. It highlights the Persian Empire's contributions to civilization, including commerce, public works, and religious tolerance under leaders like Cyrus the Great. Cyrus's approach to empire management through diplomacy and cultural exchange is emphasized, as well as his act of freeing Jewish slaves and funding their return to Jerusalem. The paragraph suggests that Greek historian Herodotus's potentially biased writings have shaped many assumptions about the Persians.

05:01

🏺 The Cultural and Social Progress of the Achaemenid Empire

Paragraph 2 delves into the cultural and social aspects of the Achaemenid Empire, showcasing the Persians' artistic achievements in rock carving, metalwork, and carpet weaving. It discusses the empire's influence on subsequent rulers and the decline caused by costly wars and heavy taxation under Xerxes I. The paragraph also touches on the empire's fall to Alexander the Great and the enduring cultural legacy of Persia, including its influence on the Islamic Golden Age and modern-day Iran. It concludes by urging a broader recognition of Persia's contributions to human progress beyond the Eurocentric focus on Greco-Roman history.

Keywords

💡Persian Empire

The Persian Empire refers to a series of dynasties based in modern-day Iran, spanning several centuries from the 6th-century B.C.E. It was known for its vast territories stretching from the Balkans to India's Indus Valley. The empire is a central theme of the video, illustrating the civilization's achievements and its influence on governance and culture, contrasting the common narrative that history is written by the victors, in this case, the Greeks.

💡Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, the first stage of the Persian Empire. He is highlighted in the video for his unique approach to leadership, promoting religious tolerance, and mercy. A prime example is his act of freeing the Jewish slaves of Babylon and funding their return to Jerusalem, which is immortalized in the 'Cyrus Cylinder', described by the UN as the 'first charter of human rights'.

💡Darius the Great

Darius the Great was a prominent figure of the Achaemenid Empire, under whose rule the empire reached its greatest extent. The video emphasizes his efforts to unify the empire through standardization of currency, weights, measurements, and the promotion of Aramaic as the official language. He also built extensive road networks that facilitated trade and commerce.

💡Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is the ancient Persian monotheistic religion mentioned in the video, which did not make rulers divine but followed the precepts set by the prophet Zoroaster. It introduced the concept of a struggle between good and evil and forbade slavery, reflecting the values and mores of Persian society and contrasting with Greek practices.

💡Cultural Hegemony

Cultural hegemony refers to the dominance of one culture over others, often through imposition by a ruling power. The video discusses how Cyrus the Great did not impose Persian culture on conquered territories but instead adopted the best elements from each, fostering cultural exchange and new, improved cultures.

💡Herodotus

Herodotus, known as the 'father of history', was a Greek historian whose writings about the Persians are a significant source of information but also potential bias. The video suggests a reevaluation of his narratives to achieve a more balanced perspective on Persian history.

💡Xerxes I

Xerxes I is noted for his failed invasion of Greece, which is a turning point discussed in the video. His military campaigns, including the Battle of Thermopylae, led to significant losses for the Persian Empire and contributed to its decline. The video challenges the simplified narrative of this event, emphasizing the broader context of the war.

💡Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great is mentioned as the conqueror who brought down the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BC. His victory is a significant historical event that marked the end of an era, as discussed in the video, and it underscores the rise and fall of empires.

💡Golden Age

The term 'Golden Age' is used in the video to describe periods of great cultural and intellectual prosperity. It contrasts the Greek Golden Age with the achievements of the Persian Empire, suggesting that the latter was also a time of significant progress and stability.

💡Eurocentric

Eurocentric refers to a perspective that prioritizes European culture and history. The video argues against a Eurocentric view of progress, emphasizing the contributions of the Persian Empire to human civilization and the need for a more inclusive narrative.

💡Cultural Persistence

Cultural persistence is the ongoing influence of a culture over time. The video discusses how Persian culture has persisted through various dynasties and continues to influence language, art, architecture, and other aspects of life in many nations.

Highlights

The Greek victory over the Persian Empire is often credited with ushering in a golden age of Greek civilization.

The Persian Empire was itself highly civilized, with a focus on religious tolerance and mercy.

Cyrus the Great promoted a policy of non-imposition of cultural hegemony and religious tolerance.

The Persian Empire innovated in commerce and trading networks, and funded public works.

Greek society was based on slavery, while Persian emperors did not believe in enslaving their populations.

Cyrus the Great's approach to empire management was through diplomacy and cultural exchange.

Cyrus is known for freeing Jewish slaves and funding their return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple.

The Cyrus Cylinder is considered by the UN as the 'first charter of human rights'.

Darius the Great expanded the empire and introduced standardized systems of currency and measurement.

The Persian Empire facilitated trade and commerce through extensive road and transport networks.

Persian society practiced Zoroastrianism, which forbade slavery.

Women in Persian society had more liberty and could own property and hold high positions.

The Achaemenid Empire saw cultural advancements in art, metalwork, and architecture.

The decline of the Persian Empire began with costly wars and heavy taxation under Xerxes I.

The Achaemenid Empire fell to Alexander the Great in 330 BC.

Later Islamic invaders were influenced by Persian culture, leading to another Golden Age.

The Persian Empire's culture and mentality persisted and influenced many nations.

The idea that Greek culture formed the basis of western civilization is not wholly supported by history.

The lasting impact of Persian-influenced middle-eastern civilizations should not be underestimated.

The story of progress is not just a Eurocentric tale based on the ancient Greco-Roman world.

Transcripts

This video is brought to  you by Captivating History. 

Have you ever heard the commonly used adage  that history is written by the victors?  

Well, the totalitarian Persian Empire was  defeated by the democratic Greeks, bringing  

about a Greek golden age, and with it what many  consider to be the dawning of the governing  

principles of western civilisation. With essential  contributions to our lives, including democracy,  

mathematics, philosophy, art, and literature,  the Greeks can indeed claim to have made positive  

innovations to the progress of humanity. However,  the framing of this narrative distorts the truth. 

The Persians were, in fact, civilised  themselves - perhaps even more so than  

the Greeks by modern standards. In Cyrus the  Great, we have a leader with a light touch,  

who didn’t impose cultural hegemony  over conquered lands, promoting  

religious tolerance and mercy instead. We see  innovations in commerce and trading networks,  

and funding of public works to improve the  lives of citizens. The Greek society was  

based on slavery, yet Persian emperors did  not believe in enslaving their populations. 

Studying history is always about shifting  perspectives to get a better understanding.  

Many assumptions about the Persians came from  the writings of the Greek historian, Herodotus,  

the father of history. Any amateur history student  can see the potential for bias in this situation.  

With this in mind, let’s dive a little deeper  into the Persian Empire, and see if we can  

begin to shift the perspective a little. First, let’s have a look at its origins. The  

Persian Empire refers to a series of dynasties  based in modern-day Iran and spanning several  

centuries, beginning in the 6th-century B.C.E.  It had a relatively humble foundation with  

several semi-nomadic tribes engaged in sheep  and goat-farming across the Iranian plateau.  

From these simple beginnings, there emerged a  leader that began to conquer surrounding tribes:  

Cyrus the Great, founder of this first stage  of the Persian Empire, sometimes called the  

Achaemenid Empire. Amazingly, this empire would  become vast, a sprawling area stretching from  

the Balkans in the West to India’s Indus Valley in  the East and going into the Nile valley in Africa. 

We all know that vast empires can  prove difficult to reign over;  

history provides us with an abundance of  stories where mismanagement led to ruin.  

Cyrus realised that the key to peace was calm  diplomacy as opposed to oppression. He created  

a new way of managing an empire, where the best  elements of conquered territories were adopted  

elsewhere – an exchange that served to build new  and better cultures There was no need to impose  

Persian culture on politically submissive  territories. The most famous example of his  

mercy is in the freeing of the Jewish slaves  of Babylon once that empire fell to Cyrus. He  

not only released them, but he then funded their  passage home to Jerusalem and helped them rebuild  

their temple. Cyrus is immortalised in the ‘Cyrus  Cylinder’, an artifact inscribed with his beliefs  

of overthrowing tyranny. The UN describes  this as the “first charter of human rights.” 

The second prominent figure of the Achaemenid  Empire was Darius the Great, distantly related  

to Cyrus. Under Darius, the Persian Empire  reached its heights in terms of the land he ruled.  

Maintaining the growth prevailing during Cyrus’  reign, he sought to unify the empire through added  

emphasis on standardization. Under Darius, the  realm introduced standardized currency, weight,  

and measurement systems – while Aramaic was  championed as the official language. Additionally,  

building roads and transport networks that  allowed trade and commerce to flourish throughout  

the empire helped create many wealthy merchants. What was life like for the average citizen under  

the rule of these emperors? Undestandably,  it’s difficult to paint a complete picture,  

but there is a lot we know from various  sources. We know that the Persians practised  

a monotheistic religion – Zoroastrianism – though  this was not the official religion of the state.  

Named after the Persian prophet, Zoroaster,  rulers followed those precepts, but did not  

claim to be divinely selected. Zoroastrianism  is possibly the first religion to introduce the  

concept of a good vs evil struggle in life, and  through this morality, slavery was forbidden.  

Zoroastrianism is still practised today as a  minority religion in parts of Iran and India. 

Women in Persian society enjoyed much more  liberty than their Greek counterparts.  

In the ancient Greek world, women often  needed an escort to leave their houses  

and could not own property. Conversely, in  Persian society, women could be managers,  

gaining high positions in their professions, and  often owned property; many owned large estates. 

As for culture, we know that many artforms  excelled during the Achaemenid Empire,  

with many cultural norms being adapted  from the acquisition of new lands.  

We see from excavation sites (such as  at the ancient capital, Persepolis),  

that Persians were exceptionally gifted rock  carvers and were capable of ornate relief designs.  

In other archaeological sites, we have  found evidence of skilled metalwork,  

including silver trinkets, a golden chariot,  and sophisticated carpet-weaving techniques. 

This all points to a progressive society,  seemingly fluid and willing to merge  

culture with each new land acquisition. It’s  often said that the Persian Empire provided  

the perfect blueprint for a well-managed  land-based empire – a blueprint that many  

subsequent emperors around the world would  follow. Yet, empires rise, and empires fall.  

What brought about the decline of this  first iteration of the Persian Empire? 

As Twain said, “history doesn’t necessarily  repeat, but it often rhymes,” and foten,  

it’s a costly war that serves as the catalyst  for decline. The Persian Empire met its match  

with a failed invasion of Greece under the rule  of Xerxes I in 480 B.C.E. Widely popular for the  

miraculous defeat by 300 Spartans led by Leonidas  at Thermopylae, this oft-dramatized story isn’t  

always presented accurately. Actually, there were  a lot more soldiers involved in this conflict,  

including thousands of soldiers from other  Greek-city states. Nevertheless, Herodotus was  

correct in highlighting this defense – the Greeks  were heavily outnumbered yet inflicted tremendous  

casualties on Xerxes’ armies. Ultimately, the  costly invasion of Greece failed for Xerxes,  

followed by an expensive defense of Persia’s  lands, diminishing the empire’s funds – which  

Xerxes tried to replenish with heavier taxes.  The final nail in the coffin came in 330 BC  

as the Achaemenid Empire fell  to Alexander the Great’s armies. 

Many versions of of the Persian Empire history  focuses on the Achaemenid era since this is where  

it reached its heights. However, it is important  to delve a little deeper into the subsequent  

iterations to explain how later Islamic invaders  were influenced by Persian culture. This led to  

another Golden Age – the Islamic one. Historians  often manufacture neatly-packaged eras and  

foundation stories, so it’s essential to step back  and understand that history is not so simple. Once  

an empire is conquered, the culture and mentality  of that empire do not simply dissipate. Mapping  

the stories of later dynasties helps to build a  picture of how the Persian culture persists to  

this day across many nations in terms of language,  art, architecture, cuisine, and much more. 

Returning to the original premise that Greek  culture formed the basis of western civilization,  

we can now see that the idea is not wholly  supported by history. In many ways, life was  

actually much more stable and progressive in 5th  century Persia. Over and above this observation,  

the lasting impact of the Persian-influenced  middle-eastern civilisations cannot be  

underestimated. Right up into the modern-day  scientific and technological innovations of Iran,  

it’s essential that we recognize Persia’s  contribution to human progress. The story  

of progress is much than just a Eurocentric  tale based on the ancient Greco-Roman world.

To learn more about the Persian  empire, then check out our book,  

The Persian Empire: A Captivating Guide to the  History of Persia, Starting from the Ancient  

Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanian Empires  to the Safavid, Afsharid, and Qajar Dynasties.

It’s available as an e-book, paperback and  audiobook. Also, grab your free mythology bundle  

e-book for free while still available. All links  are in the description. If you enjoyed the video,  

please hit the like button and  subscribe for more videos like this