History Summarized: Ancient Persia

Summary

This script explores the Persian Empire beyond its portrayal as the antagonist in Greek history, highlighting its unique and fascinating history. It details the rise of Cyrus the Great, the Achaemenid Empire's tolerance and prosperity, and the later shifts under the Parthians and Sassanids, emphasizing the empire's commitment to justice, fairness, and openness.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Persian Empire, often misunderstood as a villainous entity, has a rich and unique history that extends beyond its conflicts with Greece.
• 🤴 Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Empire, was known for his military and political acumen, as well as his commitment to treating conquered peoples with respect and equality.
• 🕊 Cyrus's conquests included the Median Empire, the Babylonians, and the Lydians, and he was celebrated for freeing the Jewish captives and supporting the construction of the Second Temple.
• 🛣 The Achaemenid Empire was expansive, stretching from the Indus Valley to the Hellespont, and was characterized by a sophisticated bureaucracy and a decentralized governance system with satraps.
• 🗝️ The Ionian Revolt and subsequent Persian Wars with Greece have shaped the Western perception of Persia as oppressive, but this view is not entirely representative of the empire's overall character.
• 🌟 Darius the Great stabilized the empire after Cambyses's controversial reign, implementing reforms and suppressing revolts to maintain the empire's unity.
• 👥 The Achaemenid Empire was notably diverse and inclusive, promoting cultural exchange and coexistence among its many ethnic groups and religions.
• 📚 Zoroastrianism, the main religion of the Persian Empire, had a significant influence on the development of later monotheistic religions and was a key part of Persian cultural heritage.
• 🔨 The Parthian Empire, which succeeded the Achaemenids, continued the tradition of respecting various cultures but faced challenges from Rome and internal strife.
• 🛡️ The Sassanid Dynasty marked a return to a more centralized Persian identity and the reestablishment of Zoroastrianism as the state religion, but also saw increased religious and social tensions.
• 🏹 The Sassanid Empire's military successes against Rome and its efforts to consolidate power contrasted with the Parthian's stalemate, but internal conflicts and external pressures eventually led to its downfall.

Q & A

What was the general perception of the Persian Empire in the context of the Greek wars?

The Persian Empire was often branded as the antagonist due to the wars with Greece and the general Hellenistic-centric take on ancient history, which led to a perception of them as a 'big bad' similar to the First Order in the Star Wars franchise.

Why did Cyrus the Great garner support from Median nobility?

Cyrus the Great gained support from Median nobility by promising them that their people would be treated as full equals of the Persians, which was a commitment he upheld after defeating the Median Empire.

What significant act of kindness did Cyrus the Great perform after conquering Babylon?

Cyrus the Great famously freed the captive Jewish population in Babylon and helped them build the Second Temple, demonstrating his commitment to treating conquered peoples with respect and equality.

How did Cyrus the Great's approach to conquered peoples differ from other empires of his time?

Unlike some other empires, Cyrus the Great forgave his defeated enemies and treated them as equals, promoting a sense of unity and fairness within his empire.

What was the role of the satraps in the Achaemenid Persian Empire?

Satraps were local rulers, akin to governors, who were delegated power to rule the provinces of the Achaemenid Persian Empire on behalf of the Great King or King of Kings.

Why did the Ionian Greek City-States revolt against Persia in 498 BC?

The Ionian Greek City-States revolted due to political reasons and dissatisfaction with the rulers chosen by Persia to govern them, leading to a desire for freedom from Persian rule.

How did the portrayal of Persia change in the narrative of the Ionian revolt and subsequent wars with Greece?

The portrayal shifted from a focus on initial political issues to a more generalized view of Persia as oppressive and evil, which misrepresents the overall history and actions of the Persian Empire.

What cultural and social contributions did Cyrus and Darius make to their empire?

Cyrus and Darius were known for their contributions to the well-being of their empire's people, including welcoming multiple cultures, restoring buildings, creating infrastructure like roads and a postal system, promoting education, and being notably egalitarian with respect to women's rights.

How did the Parthian Empire differ from the Achaemenid Empire in terms of cultural integration?

The Parthian Empire was characterized by a mix of Persian and Greek culture, with Parthian Kings even identifying as 'Philhellene' or lovers of Greece, and incorporating Greek cultural elements into their rule.

What was the significance of Zoroastrianism in the Persian Empire?

Zoroastrianism was the main Persian religion and played a significant role in influencing later developments in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It was a complex monotheistic belief system that emphasized the duality between good and evil.

How did the Sassanid Empire differ from the Parthian and Achaemenid Empires in terms of religious and cultural policies?

The Sassanid Empire saw a recentralization of government and a stronger emphasis on Zoroastrianism as the state religion, leading to increased pressure on non-Zoroastrians and non-Persians, which contrasted with the more tolerant and inclusive policies of the Achaemenid Empire.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The Misunderstood Persian Empire

This paragraph challenges the common perception of the Persian Empire as a malevolent force, often shaped by Greek narratives and popular culture like the movie '300'. It highlights the unique history of Persia, beginning with Cyrus the Great's conquest of the Median Empire and his policy of treating conquered peoples as equals. Cyrus is portrayed as a benevolent ruler, especially in his treatment of the Babylonians and the Jewish captives. The paragraph also discusses the empire's vast size under the Achaemenid dynasty, the cultural and administrative achievements of Cyrus and Darius, and the Ionian revolt which led to the Persian Wars with Greece.

05:03

🏛 The Cultural and Political Riches of Persian Empires

This paragraph delves into the cultural and political aspects of the Persian Empire, emphasizing its multi-ethnic harmony and prosperity. It mentions the empire's extensive trade, art, and architecture, as well as its effective justice system. The paragraph also touches on the influence of Zoroastrianism and the empire's role in shaping the development of major world religions. The narrative then shifts to the Parthian and Sassanid Empires, discussing their cultural synthesis with Greek elements and their military and political strategies, particularly against Rome. The Parthian Empire is noted for its trade and cultural richness, despite its less effective governance compared to the Achaemenids.

10:08

🔱 The Shifting Tides of Persian Dynasties

The third paragraph focuses on the transition from the Achaemenid to the Sassanid Empire, highlighting the shift in cultural and religious policies. The Sassanids are depicted as moving away from the Achaemenid's inclusivity and justice, with a stronger emphasis on Zoroastrianism and Persian identity. The paragraph details the Sassanid's military successes against Rome and the internal strife caused by religious and aristocratic pressures. It also discusses the reigns of various Sassanid rulers, including Khosrow I, who is credited with reforms that brought the empire closer to the Achaemenid ideal of fairness and openness.

15:08

🏺 The Legacy of Persian Empires and Their Cultural Impact

The final paragraph reflects on the legacy of the Persian Empires, particularly the Achaemenid, and their commitment to justice, fairness, and openness. It also humorously notes the 'sand-powered time daggers' as a quirky cultural element. The paragraph acknowledges the empire's significant cultural contributions, which laid the groundwork for the Islamic Golden Age. The narrative concludes by emphasizing the enduring impact of Persian civilizations on art, scholarship, and governance.

Keywords

💡Persian Empire

The Persian Empire was a series of empires that ruled over the area of present-day Iran and surrounding regions. In the context of the video, it refers to the Achaemenid Empire, which was known for its expansive size and inclusive policies. The script highlights the empire's unique history beyond its portrayal as an antagonist in Greek narratives, emphasizing its achievements in governance, cultural integration, and infrastructure.

💡Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire and is depicted in the script as a benevolent ruler. He is noted for his military and political strategies, such as gaining support from Median nobility and treating conquered peoples as equals. His actions, such as freeing the Jewish captives in Babylon and helping them rebuild their temple, showcase his commitment to fairness and justice, which is a central theme in the video.

💡Median Empire

The Median Empire was a powerful kingdom that preceded the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the script, it is mentioned as the entity that Cyrus the Great sought to conquer. The Median Empire's reputation for harsh treatment of its subjects is contrasted with Cyrus's more equitable approach, highlighting the shift in governance that marked the beginning of the Persian Empire.

💡Achaemenid Empire

The Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great, is a key focus of the video. It is described as the first and one of the most successful multi-ethnic empires, characterized by its internal peace, prosperity, and fair governance. The script emphasizes the empire's achievements in administration, infrastructure, and cultural integration, which contributed to its enduring legacy.

💡Ionian Revolt

The Ionian Revolt was a rebellion of Greek city-states in Anatolia against Persian rule, which is mentioned in the script. It is significant as it marks the beginning of the Persian Wars and the portrayal of Persia as an 'evil' empire in Greek narratives. However, the script challenges this view by highlighting the broader context of Persian governance and its generally fair treatment of diverse cultures.

💡Darius the Great

Darius the Great was a ruler of the Achaemenid Empire who succeeded Cyrus the Great. In the script, he is noted for his efforts to stabilize the empire after the assassination of Cambyses, including suppressing revolts and reestablishing order. His rule is part of the broader narrative of the Persian Empire's commitment to justice and stability.

💡Sassanid Empire

The Sassanid Empire, which succeeded the Parthian Empire, is mentioned in the script as a later period of Persian rule. It is characterized by a shift back towards Persian identity and Zoroastrianism as the state religion. The script contrasts the Sassanid Empire with the Achaemenid Empire, noting changes in governance and religious influence that affected the empire's inclusivity and fairness.

💡Parthian Empire

The Parthian Empire is described in the script as a period of Persian history that was a mix of Persian and Greek cultures. It is noted for its significant role in trade and commerce, particularly with the Roman Empire. The script highlights the Parthians' respect for diverse cultures and their military innovations, such as mounted archers, which were a challenge for the Romans.

💡Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is the main religion of the Persian Empire, particularly emphasized in the Sassanid period. The script discusses its influence on Persian culture and its role in shaping the empire's identity. Zoroastrianism's monotheistic beliefs and emphasis on the duality of good and evil are noted, as well as its potential influence on later Abrahamic religions.

💡Khosrow I

Khosrow I, also known as Chosroes, is highlighted in the script as a significant ruler of the Sassanid Empire. He is credited with reforms that consolidated power and reduced the influence of the religious establishment and aristocracy, making the empire more centralized and fair. His actions are compared to those of Cyrus the Great, emphasizing the theme of justice and fairness in Persian governance.

💡Islamic Conquest

The Islamic Conquest is mentioned in the script as the event that ultimately led to the fall of the Sassanid Empire. It is significant as it marks a major shift in the region's political and cultural landscape, ending the long period of Persian rule and paving the way for the rise of Islamic influence in the area.

Highlights

The Persian Empire is often misperceived as a villainous entity due to its wars with Greece and the Hellenistic perspective on history.

Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, gained support by promising equal treatment to conquered peoples, unlike many other empires of the time.

Cyrus was known for his leniency and kindness, setting a precedent for fair treatment of conquered peoples, including the freeing of Jewish captives in Babylon.

The Achaemenid Persian Empire had an extensive and effective bureaucracy, with local power delegated to satraps who were mini kings from local nobility.

The Ionian Revolt against Persia was driven by political reasons and a desire for self-governance, not just oppression.

Cyrus and Darius contributed greatly to the well-being of their empire by promoting education, building infrastructure, and supporting women's rights.

The Athenian playwright Aeschylus wrote 'The Persians' to humanize the Persians after the Battle of Salamis, showing a more nuanced view of the empire.

The Parthian Empire was a significant center for trade between Asia and the Mediterranean, especially for Chinese silk.

Parthian culture was a unique blend of Persian and Greek influences, with Parthian kings even labeling themselves as 'Philhellene'.

The Parthian Empire continued the Achaemenid tradition of respecting all cultures and peoples within their empire.

The Sassanid Dynasty marked a shift back to Persian identity and the establishment of Zoroastrianism as the state religion.

The Sassanid Empire saw a recentralization of power and a move away from the localization and weakening of power seen under the Parthians.

Shapur II of the Sassanid Empire strengthened Zoroastrian orthodoxy, leading to increased social strife and persecution of non-Zoroastrians.

Khosrow I of the Sassanid Empire is celebrated for his reforms that centralized power, diminished religious and aristocratic influence, and promoted a more open society.

Khosrow II of the Sassanid Empire launched campaigns against the Byzantine Empire, capturing significant territories but ultimately losing them after a costly war.

The fall of the Sassanid Empire led to a period of instability and the rise of various empires, culminating in the Islamic Golden Age centered in Persia.

The Achaemenid Empire is highlighted for its long-standing commitment to justice, fairness, and openness, setting a high standard for civilizations.

The Persian Empire's cultural heritage, including Zoroastrianism, had a profound influence on the development of later religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Transcripts

If you, like me, learned about the Persian wars from the Greek perspective, or have even so much as heard of the movie 300,

you might be inclined to view the Persian Empire as some kind of First Order level big bad.

But that couldn't be farther from the truth.

Persia is often branded as the antagonist because of the wars with Greece and the general

Hellenistic-centric take on a particular branch of ancient history.

But I hope that I can show you why even someone like me a fall on Helenus

Classicist who loves ancient greece more than he loves most people can see that persia has a fascinating and amazingly unique history

That's so much more than just being the bad guy in a zack snyder movie mesopotamian history before persia is certainly interesting

But it's easily its own topic so I'll skip it for now

Just know that it existed our story begins in the mid 500 BC

The big kid in town was the median Empire and they had a reputation for being mean to their

subjects

So some people to the south

Persians and in particular this guy cyrus wanted to have a go at conquering them cyrus didn't really have a big army

But he was smart

And he garnered a lot of military and political support from some of the annoyed Median

nobility he managed this by promising his new allies that their people would be treated as full equals of the persian and

unlike some other Empires

I could name he actually followed through not only that but when he defeated the Medians

He made a point to forgive his defeated enemies and treated them as equals as well, but wait. There's more uh

Yeah, thank you

infomercial version of blue anyway in the following years he crossed the tigris River and conquered the

Babylonians and not only was he nice to the babylonians, too

He famously freed their captive Jewish population and helped them build the second temple which just wow

Cyrus definitely wins my award for the nicest world conquering Empire builder in history and those two things don't usually go together so props to

Cyrus for actually pulling it off, and if you know you're herodotus

You'll also know the story of croesus king of lydia which actually happened seven years before the conquest of Babylon, but details

So this guy croesus is rich

Stupid rich croesus bored of the newfound achaemenid persian Empire and each one wanted to conquer the other

Croesus a greek wanted to be sure of his chance, so he got an oracle from delfy

That said oh great king croesus if you attack the achaemenid persian empire you will destroy a great empire and then he thought

Huh, well I guess that settles that and attacked

Unfortunately for him the oracle being Trixie's always didn't tell him that it was his own empire. That would be destroyed, so

Syrus being the Clever military tactician that he was defeated croesus and conquered the whole of anatolia in the long run

This is going to end up coming back to by persia in the ass but for now good for them

then like we said the achaemenid persians conquered Babylon and cyrus had himself a merry little empire and

By little I mean it was bloody huge

No Empire in history had been so sprawling before this that thing ran from the indus Valley all the way to the Hellespont

Dam but we're actually not done yet after cyrus died his son Cambyses conquered egypt the egyptians were less than thrilled

because Cambyses did not share his father's kindness as he famously killed the

SUPER SUPER SACRED Bull of Apis among many other bad things Cambyses was later

Assassinated and replaced by Darius the first who put things back on track

his first order of business was suppressing a series of revolts that resulted from the

assassination and with only a small army against all odds

He actually did it okay. So now that the person empire is all nice and resettled

I should say that they had a fantastic system of

Bureaucracy the Great King or King of Kings like Cyrus or Darius was the ruler of all of the empire

Local power however was delegated to a series of satraps, mini Kings picked from the local nobility who ruled the

50 Odd persian provinces, like a governor. In 498 Bc a collection of Ionian Greek City-States on the coast of Anatolia

revolted from Persia partially for political reasons

but also

because the Ionians and company didn't much care for the rulers that persia had chosen to govern them

But whatever the case there was a revolt which is what's important here eventually

Athens got involved as the narrative turned from the initial politics more towards. Hey

Let's fight the oppressive and evil persians for our freedom

It's understandable to see why the message changed the way it did in this particular situation

But it misrepresents persia on the whole fight for freedom fine, but oppressive and evil

hardly. There is a mountain of

evidence to how much Cyrus and Darius did for the well-being of all the people in their empire. Not only were they welcoming of multiple

different cultures. They restored buildings, created roads and a postal system, promoted education

And we're notably egalitarian and women's rights. Now

You can't guarantee that the satrap of your particular province isn't going to do something stupid and mean. Which is

Unfortunately exactly what happened to the Ionians, but all things considered, living in the persian Empire was pretty great if you're from somewhere

that's part of the western classical tradition like, say America. You might have a different more aggressive war mongery

picture of persia because of the Ionian revolt and the

subsequent wars with greece which, by the way, while I don't have the time to get into the detail here if you would like to

learn more about the Persian Wars please go check out this video on Greek history. So

anyway, while all of those anti-persia sentiments are valid for Greeks,

It's unfair and flat-out incorrect to think that the entire empire was just plain evil. The Athenian Playwright, Aeschylus

wrote his play The Persian specifically to humanize them in the aftermath of the battle of salamis.

So if even he thinks that there's more to persia than a couple of wars,

surely we can all make an effort to see them for what they really are.

The persians were the first and arguably one of the most successful examples of a fair,

multi-ethnic, internally peaceful, and prosperous nation. And that's seriously impressive even

calling them persia kind of does them a disservice because persians were only one of the Empire's many peoples. Back to the point all that

cooperation and Trans-imperial Trade made persia

fabulously rich as the abundance of art,

statuary, and palaces should indicate. And also the justice system in Persia was extensive and

effective at ensuring fair treatment for all. Persia had a rich cultural heritage as well, in part relating to its tradition of zoroastrianism

the main Persian Religion. Zoroastrianism

is a complex monotheistic belief system that heavily stresses duality between good and evil, and

arguably played a strong part in influencing the later development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

It's easily its own topic

But for now just know that it existed. All in all the century and a bit following the formation of the empire was

pretty great.

But things deteriorated as a result of disputes over the throne as monarchies are likely to do.

Conflicts in the later 5th century left central powers somewhat weakened and the strength of the Empire continued to fray through the following century, and

ultimately the weakened military failed to stop the invasion of Alexander the Splendid. And then in under a decade just like that,

The Achaemenid Persian Empire was done.

Alexander's conquest in itself will be its own video soon enough

but I'll just say now that he conquered persia, and following his death the Macedonian Seleucid kingdom ruled for

200 ish years of steady decline until the parthians swept in from behind the Caspian Sea and gained back persia. By the time parthia was

on the scene in the latter 2nd century BC

greek power in Persia, Egypt, and Greece

itself had succumbed to infighting and was mostly replaced with the romans fresh from their victories in the punic wars. The parthian Empire was a

big center for trade and Commerce between Asia and the Mediterranean

and this was especially

lucrative because the Romans really enjoyed their chinese silk. One of the distinct features of the parthian Empire was how it reacted to its

environment because the world was really changing. Although Greek power was on the decline Greek culture, which was spread through the conquests of Alexander,

was still widely

popular. Many people living in the Parthian Empire were greek and the Parthian culture was very much a mix of persian and greek

culture in one.

Parthian Kings were even known to write the word Philhellene or lover of Greece, in

Greek, on their coins. And not only were the parthians kind to Greeks and Greek culture, the parthian Empire

continued the Achaemenid tradition of respecting all of the cultures and peoples in their empire.

Medians, Jews you name it.

Conflict started happening when Rome expanded eastward in the centuries after Caesar. Looking for more land and also

probably wanting a direct line to the silk trade. Famously the Parthians killed Crassus and company in 53 BC.

Which then opened up the door to a flood of roman generals who wanted to succeed where Crassus had failed. And part of the difficulty

for the romans in dealing with these guys was their army. The parthians were working with mounted archers

Which was a serious pain for the roman infantry to deal with. Not only was combat on open terrain likely to end in a roman

bloodbath.

Parthian speed meant that roman supply lines were really vulnerable. On the flip side the romans used hilly terrain and ambush tactics to their advantage.

And their cities were nearly impenetrable to the parthians. So I wish I had a more interesting story for you here,

but it was basically just a two century stalemate. Augustus tried to make peace

but Nero turned around and knackered it, so conflict

continued and in the later second and early third centuries it only got fiercer. The Parthians managed to resist an invasion from Emperor Caracalla

and company.

But as the battles were very hard-fought, the conflict left the empire in weakened disarray. This set the stage for the Sassanid Dynasty to usurp

power from the Parthians and create a new empire that would last all the way up until the Islamic Conquest.

Still the Parthians had a good run, did a lot of trade, and while the government wasn't as strong or effective as in Achaemenid times,

overall things were still pretty good. For me the coolest part here is the interesting incorporation of Greek culture

into persian in the realms of art, architecture, and literature as well as a persian cultural revival

following the hellenistic age. It may not be Persia's most awesomest Empire ever, but it's pretty damn cool. In

226 a guy named Ardashir from back in ye olde persia, as in Persia before the Persian Empire

happened Persia, usurped the empire from the Parthians. Through a mix of military and diplomatic

maneuvering he established the Sassanid Empire, and began a shift away from Greek culture back towards the more persian stuff. That

reestablishment of persian identity was a dominant and lasting feature for much of Sassanid and empire. As part of this Ardashir instituted

Zoroastrianism as the official state religion. And this is where the Sassanids starts to look not quite so similar

towards the Achaemenids. In the Achaemenid empire as we mentioned, things were fair and just for an overwhelming majority of people

However in the Sassanid empire religious forces became much more powerful, and them along with the growing

aristocracy put some seriously unwanted pressure on non-zoroastrians and non-persians in the empire.

So the Sassanid empire really committed to that pro-Persia pivot, and as that distance to them from the notorious

kindness and toleration of the Achaemenids, we should also note how the Sassanids are different from their predecessors the Parthians.

The Sassanid Empire saw a recentralization of government following the broad

localization and

arguably a weakening of power under the Parthians. And after Shapur the first took the throne following the death of his father Ardashur,

the Sassanid Empire also found itself winning a series of wars with Rome.

Surprising right? Well, though the Parthians were locked into a stalemate in centuries prior. Rome

now happens to be going through a 50 year long crisis in which the empire was in

constant danger of collapsing.

So the Sassanids were contending with a much weaker Rome and they found much greater

success because of it. The next famous Sassanid ruler was Shapur the second who repelled eastern invaders and strengthened Persia's overall military standing.

He also helps consolidate Zoroastrian orthodoxy which in turn led to greater social strife between

zoroastrians and everyone else. In particular, when Constantine declared himself the protector of all Christians in

313 the Persian zoroastrians started looking at the persian Christians really suspiciously.

And then there were a bunch of persecutions, and also the increased religious pressure resulted in women having fewer rights

which is never fun. While Shapur II did do a lot to strengthen the empire against Rome and eastern invaders,

he's an uncommon example of a king or shah in the persian who actively went

backwards and made Persia a less tolerant and open place. And this all really went against what the persian empire was supposed to stand for.

From the moment Cyrus established the Achaeminid empire

he was fair and

just to all. And even in the Sassanid Empire too, most of the shahs were pretty good about maintaining equal justice.

But between Shapur II, the strong zoroastrian establishment, and the aristocracy,

life was difficult for a lot of people of Sassanid empire for a long while. It wasn't until almost 200

years later after inconsistent leadership and invasion from the east that Khosrow the first got things back on track. Khosrow

consolidated power and diminished the influence of the religious establishment and the aristocracy. Which helped put all that strife

we were just talking about on the down low. In their place

he instituted a system of bureaucrats who worked on behalf of the central government. This should hopefully start to resemble the Achaemenid system.

So it should be no surprise that Khosrow is by far

the most celebrated shah of the Sassanid Era, and here's my take on why. See the Parthian Empire was still Persian in theory,

but to me there's a lot of greekness going on. So it's more its own thing and most of the Sassanid Empire up until

Khosrow, was overly concerned with promoting that singular, unified,

persian-zoroastrian

identity in what's arguably an attempt to reclaim the greatness of the Achaemenids.

But they missed the point entirely, from the very beginning the point of the Achaemenid Empire

was never about being Persian, it was about being good.

Cyrus founded his Empire on fairness and openness

and it succeeded because of it. Being Persian was always just a part of the Empire's identity. Khosrow's actions made Persia more open, more

centralized, more enlightened, and more in-line with the ideal that made Achaemenid Persia so special almost a thousand years

beforehand. In my opinion,

Khosrow was a modern Cyrus.

With that all said let's get back to the events. While Khosrow's reforms did a lot for the well-being of Persia, he also had

a hand in a handful of conflicts. In the east and with the formerly Roman now Byzantine empire. Y'know wars on and off,

treaties made and broken, land reclaim from invaders, all that jazz. Later Khosrow's grandson,

Khosrow II,

launched a huge series of campaigns in the west against the Byzantine's. Grabbing the levant in Egypt, and briefly poking up into Anatolia.

In 627 the war ended and Khosrow was forced to give up the land he took during the war, and this was pretty rough for the

Persians because they expended a lot of money, resources, and soldiers fighting for what ended up being a whole lot of nothing.

Yeesh. Even worse they could barely catch their breath before Muhammad and friends marched north and invaded six short years later.

The Sassanid Empire was crippled within a decade and wiped out entirely within two. I've covered some of the subsequent history of persia elsewhere.

But really after the fall of the Sassanids,

it's a revolving door of Empires.

Muslims, mongols, and more. And it really shouldn't be a surprise that the heart of the Islamic Golden age was Persia.

I mean,

a cultural heritage with a history of producing great works of art and scholarship,

suddenly becomes famous again for producing great works of art and scholarship.

Definitely

not a plot twist in my book.

If you ask me the Persian empires, and the Achaemenid Empire in particular are,

nothing short of amazing. The works they accomplished and the culture they created is one thing.

But I don't know if there's any better example of a civilization

with such famously long-standing and successful commitment to

justice,

fairness,

and openness..

........

aaaaand

to sand powered time daggers.

Gotta remember those sand powered time daggers