WELCOME TO ANCIENT PERSIA

Iran is a land of extraordinary diversity, geographically, climatically and ethnically. To many Europeans the word Persia is evocative of beautiful works of art- carpets, tiles, fine ceramics, miniatures and metal-work. Or they might think of Persian poets such as Hafez, Saadi or Omar Khayyam, who are often quoted in translation. Yet these artistic and literary accomplishments all date from the Islamic era. Much less well known, but no less fascinating, are the art and history of ancient Persia, or Iran.

Although the very early history of man in Iran goes back well beyond the Neolithic period, it begins to get more interesting around 6000 BC, when people began to domesticate animals and plant wheat and barley. The number of settled communities increased, particularly in the eastern Zagros mountains, and handmade painted pottery appears. Throughout the prehistoric period, from the middle of the sixth millennium BC to about 3000 BC, painted pottery is a characteristic feature of many sites in Iran.

Around the ninth century BC (800's), people began to invade or enter Iran and caused conflicts among their neighbors. A group called the Medes first appeared on the historical scene in the ninth century BC, and were in conflicts with the Assyrians, their powerful neighbor to the west. Herodotus includes an account of the Medes in his stories. After the period of the Medes, the Achaemenid period followed around 550 BC, when Cyrus the Great deposed the Median king Astyages. Cyrus belonged to the ruling house of Persia but also had Median connections through his mother, whose father was supposedly Astyages. Cyrus established himself as king of the Medes and the Persians. Among his ancestors was the legendary king Achaemenes, the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty. Cyrus later was killed in 530 BC and his son Cambyses became the next ruler of Persia, followed soon after by a new man named Darius. According to Herodotus, Darius was a smart king. He divided his vast empire into twenty provinces, each with its own province and satrap (governor) to collect taxes and pay annual tribute. As an admistrator, Darius was brilliant. He died in 486 BC.

Towards the end of Darius' reign, intense struggle with Greece began which ended the superiority of the Persians. Xerxes, son of Darius, was king of Persia at this time. In the early part of his reign there were revolts in Egypt and Babylonia to deal with, but six years later he was ready to turn his attention toward Greece. Xerxes tried to attack Athens but all he accomplished was destroying the deserted city and burning the temples on the Acropolis, while the Athenians were waiting for him at Salamis. Xerxes believed that in order for him to gain control of the Peloponnese he would have to win this battle. The Greek and Persian fleets fought at Salamis, under Themistocles, in 480 B.C. The Greeks won a convincing victory. Later, the Achaemenid (Persian) attempt to overrun Greece was ended. In 465 BC, Xerxes was killed in his palace and his successor Artaxerxes continued building work at Persepolis. It was completed during the reign of Artaxerxes III, around 338 BC. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the Persian armies of the third Darius. He marched into Iran and, once there, he turned his attention to Persepolis, and that magnificent complex of buildings was burnt down. This act of destruction for revenge of the Acropolis, was surprising from one who prided himself on being a pupil of Aristotle. This was the end of the Persian Empire.
RETURN TO TOPICS PAGE