Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
The Ancient Near East
Section 4
MAIN IDEA
The Persians formed one of the largest and best-governed empires in the
ancient world and made great cultural achievements.
Key Terms and People
Cyrus the Great Persian king who, by 530 BC, ruled the largest empire in the world
Darius I ruler who followed Cyrus, restoring order to Persia
satraps governors who ruled a region in the emperor’s name
Xerxes Persian emperor who was the son of Darius I
Zoroaster man whose religious teachings became the basis of Zoroastrianism
dualism the belief that the world is controlled by two opposing forces, good and evil
Taking Notes
As you read, add information to this chart to keep track of the politics and
religion of the Persian Empire.
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Full Survey Chapter 2
21
Interactive Reader and Study Guide
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
The Ancient Near East
Section 4
Section Summary
GROWTH AND ORGANIZATION
The Medes were another Indo-European tribe that
came to power. They settled in Media, on the plateaus
of what is now Iran. Among the neighboring groups
the Medes conquered were the Persians. In 559 BC,
Cyrus the Great led a Persian revolt that united
Persia and Medes under his rule. Cyrus then
conquered the wealthy kingdom of Lydia, several
Greek cities in Ionia, and Babylon. Cyrus also freed
the Jews from slavery and allowed them to return to
Jerusalem and rebuild their temple there.
At the time of Cyrus’s death in 530 BC, he ruled
the largest empire in the world. His son Cambyses
became emperor, but unlike his father, he was
described as a tyrant and a madman. After
Cambyses’s death, Darius I became leader of Persia.
He strengthened the empire by creating a permanent
army of paid, trained soldiers. Some soldiers were
even more skilled and they served as bodyguards for
the emperor. Darius gained new lands in the east,
although he was unable to conquer Greece.
To help rule his vast empire, Darius had satraps
govern different regions. Even though they were in
charge, the satraps still had to obey Darius’s orders.
Darius also built roads and minted the first Persian
coins. Trade made Persia very rich, and most
historians consider Darius’s reign the high point of
Persian culture. His son Xerxes (ZUHRK-seez) was the
last strong leader of Persian. Later emperors faced
rebellion and a decline of trade until around 330 BC,
when the Greek king Alexander the Great conquered
Persia.
ZOROASTRIANISM
During the reigns of Cyrus and Darius, a religion
called Zoroastrianism took hold in Persia. Based on
the teachings of Zoroaster, it was one of the first
religions to teach dualism, the belief that the world is
controlled by two opposing forces, good and evil, or
Ahura Mazda and Ahriman.
The Avesta, Zoroastrianism’s sacred text, told
people to live good lives in the service of Ahura
Underline the person who
led the Persian revolt. What
places did he conquer?
_______________________
_______________________
How did Darius change the
Persian Empire?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
Underline the teachings of
Zoroaster. What did he
think people should do?
_______________________
_______________________
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Full Survey Chapter 2
22
Interactive Reader and Study Guide
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
The Ancient Near East
Section 4
Mazda so that they could go to heaven.
Zoroastrianism almost disappeared when the Persian
Empire fell to the Greeks, but gradually, Zoroaster’s
teachings spread again in Persia and other parts of the
world.
PERSIAN ACHIEVEMENTS
The Persian Empire stretched across most of Asia.
Because it was huge, it contained dozens of peoples
with their own customs and traditions. Emperors like
Cyrus and Darius encouraged their cultures to blend
because this built Persian unity. The people lived at
peace with each other, so instead of fighting, they
were able to work together to improve the empire.
To ensure that leaders in the capital stayed aware of
what was happening throughout the empire, a network
of high quality roads was build. Messengers traveled
the Royal Road, more than1,500 miles long, that was
the world’s first long highway. Urgent messages were
carried by a series of messengers who worked like
runners in a relay race.
The Persians were also widely admired for their art,
especially delicate drinking vessels made of gold and
set with precious gems. These were used in the royal
court. Animals were common Persian decorations,
appearing on the walls, gates, and columns of the
empire’s cities.
Architectural achievements are another part of
Persia’s culture. Persepolis was a city designed by
Darius I to be a monument to Persia’s glory. At its
center was a huge, highly decorated hall. There was
nothing else like it in the ancient Near East.
Why did Zoroastrianism
almost disappear?
_______________________
_______________________
Underline the names of
Persian emperors who
encouraged cultures to
blend. How did this help
the empire?
_______________________
_______________________
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
Full Survey Chapter 2
23
Interactive Reader and Study Guide