Persian Empire Historical Perspectives

The Persian Empire is often seen as the antagonist in history due to:

• Their conflicts with Rome

• The Greek perspective on history and wars with Greece

• Their treatment of conquered peoples

• Their destruction of Babylon

The __________ Empire was the dominant power before Cyrus the Great led a rebellion against them.

How did Cyrus the Great gain support from the Median nobility?

• He bribed them with gold

• He promised them they would be treated as equals in the Persian Empire

• He threatened them with military force

• He ignored them and conquered their lands anyway

Cyrus the Great famously freed the __________ from Babylonian captivity and helped them rebuild their temple.

What was one of Cyrus the Great’s most famous acts of kindness?

• He abolished slavery in all of Persia

• He freed the Jewish population in Babylon and helped them rebuild their temple

• He made alliances with the Greeks against Rome

• He allowed conquered leaders to remain in power

What was the role of a satrap in the Persian Empire?

• A general in the Persian military

• A local governor ruling a province on behalf of the king

• A tax collector responsible for funding the empire

• A priest overseeing religious rituals

How did Darius I improve the Persian Empire’s administration?

• He created a standard currency and road system

• He built the Great Wall of Persia

• He banned all non-Persian languages

• He eliminated local rulers and centralized all power in the capital

The Persian Empire’s taxation system was standardized under __________.

The __________ Road was a major trade and communication route that stretched across the empire.

The main religion of the Persian Empire was:

• Hinduism

• Zoroastrianism

• Christianity

• Buddhism