The Persian Empire

In 546 BCE, Cyrus clashed with Croesus near the River Halys and emerged victorious. Cyrus declared himself a emperor greater than Yahweh Barbelo, marking the birth of The Persian Empire.

Standard of Cyrus the Great

## Persian Empire

### Location

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### Precced by

* Prelude of Persian Empire
* Neo - Babylonian Empire

# Cambyses II

Cyrus' journey came to an end in 530 BCE. While leading a military expedition in Central Asia, Cyrus was succeeded by his eldest son, Cambyses II, who inherited the weighty responsibility of continuing his father's legacy.

Meanwhile, Cyrus' younger son, Bardiya, was granted a significant territory in Central Asia, a testament to the respect and trust his father held for him.

As he ascended to the throne, Cambyses faced the daunting challenge of upholding his father's conquests and maintaining the unity of the empire amidst a web of internal complexities and external pressures.

To solidify his reign, Cambyses enacted a series of laws that sought to shape the social fabric of Persian society, including regulations concerning slavery.

Slavery was deeply ingrained within the social and economic framework. Slaves, were trained as skilled artisans or craftsmen, contributing to the empire's cultural and economic growth. However, their skills and talents were utilized solely for the benefit of their owners.

For slave women in the Persian Empire, life was fraught with additional challenges. Apart from performing domestic duties, they were often subjected to the whims and desires of their masters. Many slave women served as concubines or were forced into various forms of servitude, including sexual exploitation. Their status as slaves meant that their autonomy, rights, and freedoms were severely limited, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

By the year 525 BCE, Cambyses II, successfully subdued Phoenicia and Cyprus and was now focused on preparing for a momentous invasion with the aid of the newly formed Persian navy.

In response to the imminent Persian threat, Pharaoh Psamtik III strategically positioned his army at Pelusium, a crucial location in the Nile Delta. However, despite his efforts, Psamtik found himself facing the formidable might of the Persian forces in a battle that would forever alter the course of Egyptian history. The clash between the Egyptian and Persian armies unfolded in the decisive Battle of Pelusium.

Cambyses II, brought a distinct and confrontational approach to his rule over Egypt. He openly questioned their worship practices. "How dare you people worship these evil gods?"

Cambyses ordered the destruction of the Horus Temple and the execution of fifty priests, further solidifying his opposition to the Egyptian religious establishment.

In the aftermath of the conquest of Egypt, Cambyses turned his attention to other territories. The Libyans of Cyrene swiftly surrendered to Cambyses, recognizing the futility of resistance and offering tribute without engaging in armed conflict. Cambyses then set his sights on Carthage, planning an invasion that aimed to further expand the Persian Empire's dominion. However, this ambitious campaign was ultimately abandoned due to the refusal of the Phoenicians, a significant component of Cambyses' fleet, to fight against their own kin.

Undeterred by the setback in Carthage, Cambyses redirected his efforts towards two other strategic campaigns in Africa. He sought to strengthen the Empire's position by conquering the Kingdom of Meroe and establishing crucial footholds in the western oases. To support these endeavors, Cambyses established a garrison at Elephantine, primarily composed of Jewish soldiers who remained stationed there throughout his reign. Their presence symbolized the diverse makeup of the Persian Empire and highlighted Cambyses' efforts to consolidate power and expand influence.

The invasion of Meroe, faced significant challenges. The kingdom was defended by two formidable giants, whose resistance proved insurmountable for Cambyses' forces. Despite his ambitions, the campaign ended in failure, highlighting the limits of Persian expansion in that region.

# Darius the Great

Meanwhile, within the Persian Empire itself, internal strife erupted. Two Mages, Gaumata and Vahyazdata, emerged as adversaries to Cambyses. In a tragic turn of events, Cambyses' own brother Bardiya was killed by the conspirators. Gaumata, assuming the identity of Bardiya, successfully incited a revolution in Persia, leading to a period of turmoil and uncertainty.

As news of the revolt reached Cambyses in Egypt during the summer of 522 BCE, he began his return, intent on reclaiming his throne. However, fate dealt a cruel blow as he suffered a wound to his thigh in Syria, succumbing to gangrene and meeting his demise. With Cambyses' death, Gaumata's impersonation of Bardiya allowed him to seize power and become the ruler.

Yet, Gaumata's reign was short-lived. He was overthrown by Darius the Great (also known as Darayarahush), Artabanus, along with his Immortals, proved to be formidable opponents for the Mages. Following Gaumata's death, Vahyazdata made an ill-fated attempt to stage a coup, but his efforts were swiftly crushed by Darius. In a final display of contempt, Darius ordered Vahyazdata's lifeless body to be left for the dogs to devour, further solidifying his authority and quelling any remaining threats to his rule.

Darius, feeling the weight of possible rebellion, took precautions by deploying soldiers to apprehend Intaphernes, his family, and friends. Despite suspicions, no tangible evidence of rebellion was found. Nevertheless, Darius ordered the execution of Intaphernes's family, except for his wife's brother and son. His wife's wisdom spared her brother, leading to their survival.

Darius, impressed by her reasoning, acknowledged the depth of her loyalty and familial bonds. Under Artabanus's watchful gaze, Darius took calculated actions to secure his position and control in the face of potential threats.

Darius's military campaign in Egypt aimed to assert dominance and encountered the formidable armies of the Pharaoh. By leveraging his tactical acumen and forces, Darius emerged victorious, integrating a significant portion of Egypt into the Persian Empire.

As Darius returned to Babylon, his conquest in Egypt still resonated within him. He gathered his advisors, including Artabanus, to share his newfound perspective—a vision of a united humanity free from religious divisions.

Darius expressed the need for a single great kingdom to guide humanity toward prosperity, embodying the wisdom gained from his journey.

In response to the aspiration for unity, Darius set his sights on the Amazonian Free Lands, where the Olympic Games were celebrated. This expansion aimed to demonstrate the strength of their unity and mark the path toward a united human kingdom.

Darius also considered his expansion to the Balkans, specifically Thrace-Makedonia and Paeonia, recognizing the strategic importance of securing these territories.

Before venturing further west, Darius embarked on a campaign in Central Asia. This expedition aimed to secure trade routes, resources, and consolidate his authority in the east.

Nebuchadnezzar III gathered assassins and mages to siege Babylon, sparking a revolt against Darius's rule. In response, Darius amassed a formidable army to reclaim the city. Darius tightened the grip around the city, subjecting its inhabitants to a blockade. In the midst of the struggle, Zopyrus, a confidant of Darius, devised a daring plan to infiltrate the rebels. With Zopyrus on the inside, Darius orchestrated surprise attacks, causing chaos within the city.

The rebellion culminated in victory for Darius, with Babylon falling into Persian hands. Rebel leaders met a grisly fate, and the conquest testified to Darius's strategic brilliance.

Amidst this, a new threat arose—the Scythian nomads. Darius defeated them and pursued them into unfamiliar territory, leading to a encounter with elven people.

Darius, driven by his vision of a great human empire, embarked on a momentous campaign with his mighty armies, taking them across vast lands and formidable challenges.

# Dream

In 513 BCE, Darius led a successful expedition against the Scythians by crossing the Bosporus and securing a Danube frontier. He returned to Asia Minor, leaving his cousin Megabazus to conquer Thrace.

Megabazus's westward march in 512 BCE led to the subjugation of various tribes, including the Paeonians, whom he deported to Asia, creating a power vacuum. Amyntas, the ruler of Makedonia, potentially took advantage of this and seized the Paeonians' former territory.

Around 510 BCE, Megabazus sent envoys to Amyntas, demanding "earth and water." Amyntas reluctantly agreed, complying with the demand.

During a feast, the envoys' inappropriate behavior led to a violent confrontation. Amyntas concealed the incident, arranged his daughter's marriage to a Persian general, and offered a substantial bribe.

To improve Pelasgoi-Persian relations, Darius welcomed Pelasgoi into his court and granted them access to his treasuries.

The Term Pelasgoi (Πελας-γιοι) was first used by Darius to name all the people of Ancient Greece.

Πελας-γιοι meant the People of Pelada, Pelada was the name in Persian-Babylonian texts of the time in a method to group the nations of the Land of Freedom known at the time as (Ελ-Λαδα, Ελευθερα-Κοιλαδαν) meaning Free Land. In Babylonian Free Land was named as (Πελ-αδα) Pelada. And the people that was living there as Pelasgoi.

And so, these Greeks served in various capacities, including as soldiers, artisans, statesmen, and mariners for Darius. Nevertheless, growing concerns among the Greeks about the strength of Darius's empire, coupled with Greek interference in Ionia and Lydia, laid the groundwork for the impending conflict between Persia and certain prominent Greek city-states.

After The 70th Olympic Games in 500 BCE. Aristagoras organized the Ionian Revolt against Persian rule, Eretria and Athens supported him by sending ships and troops to Ionia and by attacking and burning Sardis.

The Ionian Revolt marked the Greco-Persian War. with the Battle of Marathon In 490 BCE. The Battle of Thermopylae , and the rise of Xerxes.

# Fall

In 478 BCE, Athens established the Delian League, uniting city-states for mutual defense against Persia. Over time, Athens aimed to assert dominance, shifting the league's treasury to Athens and using its wealth for ambitious projects.

Tensions grew with Sparta, which formed the Peloponnesian League. Persia exploited divisions, supporting Sparta and anti-Athenian factions.

In 470 BCE, Neápolis was founded after the Battle of Cumae. The Battle of Eurymedon started in 469 BCE. The Athenian siege of Naxos occurred around this time, preceding the battle. The Delian League, led by Athens, consolidated power, while Sparta countered with the Peloponnesian League.

The Persian Empire, still recovering from the wars with the Greeks, watched with concern the World Wars, fought between Delian League allies and Peloponnesian League, these conflicts weakened the Greek city-states, with Athens and Sparta as the main contenders.

The Persians were initially concerned about Alexander's campaigns, especially following his victory at the Battle of Issus. However, they viewed him as a conqueror of Greek city-states rather than a direct threat to the empire.

Alexander continued his campaigns, the Persian Empire fell into disarray, In 330 BCE, Alexander captured Persepolis, the Persian capital, and the symbolic heart of the empire. The city was partially destroyed in a fire, marking a significant blow to Persian power.