CIVILIZAÇÃO PERSA (ANTIGUIDADE ORIENTAL) | Resumo de História Enem. Prof Felipe de Oliveira

Summary

The Persian Empire, emerging from the Iranian Plateau, grew through military conquest, assimilating conquered cultures and forming a vast and challenging empire. The Persian administration was highly structured with the creation of satrapies (provinces) and the use of trusted governors and spies. Key developments included the construction of the Royal Road and the establishment of the first reliable gold coin. The Persian religion was dualistic, with the gods Ahura Mazda and Ahriman representing good and evil. The prophet Zoroaster played a major role in shaping Persian religious thought, which influenced other religions like Christianity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Persian Empire emerged in Iran's Plateau region, a dry and high area that became a military base, eventually expanding into a vast empire.
• 😀 The Persian Empire's economic activity was driven by militarism, with the organization of a strong military leading to the conquest of neighboring territories.
• 😀 Due to the empire's vast size, it was difficult to administer, leading the emperor to divide it into 20 provinces, called satrapies, managed by trusted officials.
• 😀 To ensure loyalty, the Persian emperor often appointed leaders from conquered peoples as satraps but required reliable overseers (the 'eyes and ears' of the king).
• 😀 The Persian Empire assimilated the cultures of conquered peoples, which enriched Persian culture and facilitated diplomatic alliances.
• 😀 A major infrastructure project in the Persian Empire was the Royal Road, a 1,000 km-long road connecting Susa to Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, enabling better military movement and commerce.
• 😀 The Persian postal system was efficient, utilizing horse messengers and relay stations along the Royal Road to communicate between the emperor and the satraps.
• 😀 The Persian Empire introduced the first reliable gold coinage, which facilitated trade and economic expansion within the empire.
• 😀 Persian culture and religion were influenced by the dualistic belief system of Zoroastrianism, which posited the existence of two opposing gods: the god of good, Ahura Mazda, and the god of evil, Angra Mainyu (Ahriman).
• 😀 The teachings of Zoroastrianism, including its dualistic worldview, had a significant impact on other major religions, such as Deism and Christianity.

Q & A

What was the main economic activity of the Persian Empire?

The main economic activity of the Persian Empire was trade, particularly facilitated by the construction of the Royal Road and the use of a reliable gold coin system.

What was the Royal Road and what purpose did it serve?

The Royal Road was a massive 1,000 km-long road that connected various parts of the Persian Empire, facilitating troop movement, trade, and communication, especially for royal messengers.

How did the Persians manage the vast size of their empire?

The Persian Empire was divided into 20 provinces, called satrapies, each governed by a satrap who was closely monitored by royal inspectors known as the 'eyes and ears of the king'.

Who were the satraps, and why were they chosen from the conquered peoples?

Satraps were governors of Persian provinces, often chosen from the conquered peoples to ensure loyalty. This practice required trusted royal inspectors to keep the satraps in check.

What was the significance of the Persian postal system?

The Persian postal system, with messenger relay stations along the Royal Road, allowed for efficient communication between the emperor, satraps, and royal inspectors, improving governance and administrative coordination.

What was the role of the Persian military in the empire?

The Persian military played a crucial role in expanding and maintaining the empire by conquering neighboring peoples. Military organization was key to the empire's success, and soldiers were often paid with gold coins.

What cultural contributions did the Persians make?

The Persians contributed significantly to cultural and religious traditions, notably through the dualistic religion of Zoroastrianism, which influenced other major religions like Christianity.

What is the central belief in Zoroastrianism?

Zoroastrianism is a dualistic religion based on the belief in two opposing gods: Ahura Mazda, the god of good, and Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), the god of evil. This battle between good and evil is central to the religion's teachings.

Who was the prophet Zoroaster, and what did he contribute to Persian culture?

Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra, was the prophet of Zoroastrianism. He wrote the sacred text 'Zend-Avesta,' which influenced Persian religious practices and later, other religions.

How did the Persian Empire influence other religions?

The Persian Empire's dualistic religious system, particularly Zoroastrianism, influenced other major religions, including Deism and Christianity, particularly in their concepts of good versus evil.