History of the persian empire book

Traces the history of the persian empire and examines the development of its religious beliefs, armed forces, art, and architecture. Buy history of the persian empire phoenix books book. If you get a chance to read cyropaedia by xenophon. This is the unabridged version of this book, and as such it is very comprehensive. Pierre briant is a specialist in the history of the near east during the era of the persian empire and the conquests of alexander and the author of numerous books. Reese morissette ii the seven great monarchies of the ancient eastern world, vol 1. Alexander in india and eastern iran 755 will et al. The narrative of the last 150 years, culminating in the conquests of alexander the great, is taken up later in the book. This article is an extract from the book atlas of empires, republished with permission.

While im sure that the information in the history of the persian empire must have been superceded to a degree in the 50 years since it has been published, and it is likely that olmstead may have been overly sure of facts, this book is a pleasure to read and a mine of cultural food for thought. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Olmstead was the first author to give an account of the persians from their perspective. Lands and peoples of the iranian plateau and central asia under achaemenid rule 744 after briant 1984b. Persian empires ancient history, ancient history, books barnes. But the book ranges widely throughout the lands ruled by the sasanian dynasty, as well as those within the iranian diplomatic and military field of view. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. The paperback of the history of the persian empire by a. The persian war of the emperor maurice 582602 part i. It is written by a greek general that was defeated by the persians, and escaped with a large portion of. Publisher washington catholic university of america press 1939. Ancient persia by captivating history the book a captivating guide to the history of persia is a scholarly work which is wellresearched and wellwritten. Under cyrus the great and darius i, the persian empire eventually became the largest empire in human history up until that point, ruling and administrating over most of the then known world, as well as spanning the continents of europe, asia, and africa. A captivating guide to the history of persia, starting from the ancient achaemenid, parthian, and sassanian empires to the safavid, afsharid, and qajar dynasties paperback december 11, 2018.

Persian empires ancient history, ancient history, books. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. One of history s first true super powers, the persian empire stretched from. Olmstead is published by university of chicago press. The historical mark of the empire went far beyond its territorial and military influences and included cultural, social, technological and religious influences as well. Xerxes watkins, office manager cyropaedia, the education of cyrus. The seven great monarchies of the ancient eastern world. History of the persian empire under cyrus the great and darius the great, the persian empire eventually became the largest and most powerful empire in human history up until that point.

The first king of the persian empire was cyrus, who issued the famous decree for the jews to return to their homeland to rebuild their temple. His method in the account of the empire is to describe each division of it not in a geographical order but rather as each was conquered by persiaby the successive persian kings cyrus, cambyses, and darius. It is a concise history of the persian empire, the first world empire established by cyrus the. Beginning in the sixth century bce, persian kings ruled a vast, culturally diverse empire that stretched from northern libya to central asia. It was published in 1948 the paperback version in 1959, but i do not believe that the book was updated between 1948 and 59 as the author died before the 1948 publication date. In this book, matt waters gives a detailed historical overview of the achaemenid period while considering the manifold interpretive problems historians face. The book ancient persia by professor matt waters is a scholarly work which is wellresearched and wellwritten. How alexander the great conquered the persian empire history. A captivating guide to the history of persia, starting from the ancient achaemenid, parthian, and sassanian empires to the safavid, afsharid, and qajar dynasties kindle edition. The achaemenid empire is noted in western history as the antagonist of the greek citystates during the greco persian wars and for the emancipation of the jewish exiles in babylon. The one exception to this arrangement is lydia, which is treated at the very beginning of the history not. Once you begin to read the book, it is extremely difficult to leave it before concluding.

These medes invaded the iranian plateau and the persians settled southeast of the iranian plateau closest to the persian gulf. Title the persian war of the emperor maurice 582602 part i. The persian empire represented the worlds first global superpower and was based on a model of tolerance and respect for other cultures and religions that few. The regime and its rich multicultural traditions prospered for 250 years until its invasion, and eventual defeat, by alexander the greats army in 331 bce. Podcast for kids nfb radio 101 sermon podcast pauping off all steak no sizzle podcast church of the oranges daily chapel spring 2012.

Under king darius the empire reached its zenith, spreading from the indus and jaxartes rivers in the east to egypt and the aegean in the west, from this is an excellent book for the reader who desires to learn more about the achaemenid kings that ruled the persian empire from when cyrus revolved against astyages, his grandfather and median overlord, in 549bc until the empire fell to alexander the great in. Out of a lifetime of study of the ancient near east. A captivating guide to the persian empire and history of iran, starting from the achaemenid empire, through the parthian, sasanian and. At its height the achaemenid empire, with its power centered in this city, reached from the nile and greece eastward to india. It brings together a multidisciplinary view of ancient iran in the first millennium bc and concentrates on the art, archaeology, history and religion of a vast geographical area far beyond the present borders of modern iran in the period beginning just before the formation of the.

History persian empire abebooks shop for books, art. It is written by a greek general that was defeated by the persians, and escaped with a large portion of his army intact. The bestknown itinerary is persepolissusa, since it can be reconstructed not only by analyzing alexanders route but also from the persepolis tablets. A captivating guide to the history of persia, starting from the ancient achaemenid, parthian, and sassanian empires to the safavid, afsharid, and qajar dynasties taken together, the civilizations of sumer, assyria, and persia have helped form the modern makeup of mesopotamia, western asia, and the world. The caucasus, inner asia, china, the arabian peninsula, the persian gulf, the indian ocean, and the roman empire loom large in the book. He begins well before cyrus the great and runs through the entire achaemenid period recounting the conquest and administration of the empire until its demise by alexanders onslaught.

I have read and watch history shows about ancient persia but this book is very intriguing and the reader will. Amelie kuhrt presents here an unprecedented collection of key texts to form a balanced representation of all aspects of the empire, in translations from their original greek, old persian, akkadian, hebrew, aramaic, egyptian or latin. This lavish set of books contains the most complete collection of raw material for reconstructing the history of the achaemenid persian empire to date. It is a concise history of the achaemenid empire, the first world empire established by cyrus the great and which lasted for 220 years.

The fullest and most reliable presentation of the history of the persian empire in existence. Persian empire what is, summary, stages, origin, fall. The evidence that this book assembles is voluminous and diverse. This book documents the beginning of the persian empire. After discussing the origins of the medes and persians and surveying the sources of persian history from 550 to 330 b. At the foot of the mount of mercy in southeastern persia, darius the great built his capital, persepolissymbol of persian glory for two centuries. Birth of the persian empire by vesta sarkhosh curtis. Peoples and roads of the zagros 727 after briant 1976 6. History of the persian empire book ancient history. A t olmstead a sweeping look at the big picture development of the persian empire circa 550330 b.

John lee really made the history of the persian empire come alive for me. Olmstead out of a lifetime of study of the ancient near east, professor olmstead has gathered previously unknown material into the story of the life, times, and thought of the persians, told for the first time from the persian rather than the traditional greek point of view. The persian empire started as a collection of seminomadic tribes who raised sheep, goats and cattle on the iranian plateau. This is a difficult subject to teach because so much of the evidence was destroyed by alexander the greatand then buried under so many later layers of history. Herodotus describes the history and constituent parts of the persian empire in books iiv. This book tells the story of how and why the great empires of history came into being, operated and ultimately declined, and discusses the future of the empire in todays globalized world.

For more than two centuries, the achaemenid empire of persia ruled the mediterranean world. The persian empire audiobook by captivating history. This book explores the formation of the first persian empire under the achaemenid persians. Istoriia persidskoi imperii na angliiskom iazyke by olmstead a. The achaemenid persian empire, at its greatest territorial extent under darius i r.