Darius the Great

1. Darius I
and the
Persian Empire
By: Aaron Bernhardt

2. But First!
What was the Persian Empire?

3. Persian Empire Overview
 The Persian Empire was a series of Imperial dynasties based in Persia
-Modern day Iran
 Founded by Cyrus the Great around 550 BCE
-After conquering Media, Lydia, and Babylonia
 The Empire lasted from 550 BCE until 330 BCE
-Conquered by Alexander the Great
 Considered one of the Ancient worlds greatest empires
 Survived through the power of the Persian “Great” trilogy
*Pictured: Symbol of Cyrus the
Great, founder of the Persian
Empire*

4. Persian King Dynastic Chart

5. The Great Persian Trilogy
Cyrus II the Great Darius I the Great Xerxes I the Great
Ruled 550 BC-530 BC Ruled 522 BC-486 BC Ruled 486 BC-465 BC

6. Darius I

7. Thesis
Why Darius I is a crucial figure of the
Persian trilogy of Great Persian Kings,
and his impact on the world of Persia.
*Pictured: Ceramic Tiling of Persian military men under Darius I*
*Pictured: Carving of Persian Nobles*

8. What did Darius look like?
Being known as the
“Greatest” of the Persian
Trilogy comes with its
perks. Darius I has many
carvings/sculptures
picturing him, as both the
King of Persia, King of
Babylon, and Pharaoh of
Egypt.
*Pictured: Illustrations of Darius I the Great, King of Persia*

9. His Early Life/Adolescence
 Born around 550 BCE.
 The oldest of five sons, to his father Hystapses and mother Rhodugune.
 His father was the Satrap of Bactria, meaning he was the governor of the
Bactria province in Persia. (Around 522 BCE).
 During Early Adulthood/Adolescence Darius served as a spearman in Cambyses
II army, where he took part in the Egyptian campaign.
 Darius’s father served in Cyrus the Great’s army, and for his service became a
noble of Cyrus’s court.
*Pictured: A carving of
Darius the Great*

10. Map of the Persian Empire Before
Darius I’s Accession

11. Darius’s Accession
 Two different accounts of Darius’s Accession.
-Darius’s account
-Darius’s predecessor (Cambyses II) killed his own brother Bardiya
-Greek historians version
-Their version stated that Darius himself killed Bardiya during a revolt.
 Due to the people rebelling against Cambyses II’s rule, Darius’s predecessor Gaumata (Bardiya) was placed on
the throne.
 In 522 BCE, Darius led a revolt against Gaumata with many others and succeeded in killing Gaumata, in the
fortress of Sikayauvati.
 The following day, after Gaumata’s death, Darius was named King of the Persians.

12. The Struggles of the Early Reign
 Coronation at Pasargadae. (Capital of Persia under Cyrus the Great)
-After preceded to move the capital to Ecbatana,while Persepolis
was under construction
 His beginnings weren’t smooth however, due to Bardiya’s
influence/support, many riots broke out across the empire.
-(Mainly in Babylonia and Elam)
 Elam had riots known as the Elamite revolts, Darius squashed the
resistance by executing their leader Aschina in Susa.
-(Only 3 month revolt)
 Babylonia riots began in Bactria, Darius’s homeland, and sparked many
revolts across the Achaemenid Empire.
-Including Persis, Egypt, Media, Assyria, Parthia, and again in
Elam/Babylonia.*Pictured: Ruins of Pasargadae*

13. Early Reign Cont.
 Most of Achaemenid Empire in turmoil.
-(Around 523 BCE)
 Darius had little support from common population, but major support
from the army and nobles.
-With their help he managed to quell at revolts against his reign.
 Most significant event taken place during his early reign was the killing of
intaphernes. One of Darius’s previous noble allies.
-Intaphernes kidnapped Darius’s wife and assaulted his guards
-In retaliation, and fearing that the nobles would turn on him,
Darius had him and his whole family tree killed.
*Pictured: The noble man
Intaphernes*

14. Reign Conquests and Expansion
 After securing Empire, and squashing
rebellions he focused on Egypt.
-Defeated the current Pharaoh and
reconquered land previously
controlled by Cambyses II
(Pictured on next slide)
 Incorporated most of Egypt into
Achaemenid Empire
 Through military campaigns Darius reigned
an area from:
-Balkans (Thrace-Macedonia, Bulgaria-
Paeonia) in the west
-To the Indus Valley in the east.*Pictured: Darius I,
depicted as a Egyptian Pharaoh*
*Pictured: A map of the Persian Empire
before the Indus Valley Campaign*

15. Reign
Conquests
Cont.
 Indus Valley Campaign
-Took place in 516 BCE
-Campaign to Central Asia, Aria, and Bactria.
-Modern day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India
-Gained control of Indus Valley from Gandhara to modern day Karachi.

16. Reign
Conquests
Cont.
 Persia invasion of Greece
-Considered the biggest
event of his reign
 Begin with the invasion of
Thrace
-Conquering most of the
Northern Aegean Sea
 Greeks in Asia Minor and Greek
Islands submitted to rule by 510
BCE
*Map shows the Persian War*

17. Laws/Government
 Laws and Taxes
-Reformed the Taxation system placed by Cyrus and Cambyses
-Created 20 provinces (Satrapies) which had a governor (Satrap),
each satrapies had tributes required to pay to the government
-Tributes: Gold, Silver, or other precious minerals
-Satraps were Persian nobles, usually from the six noble houses that support Darius
-Each Satrap was handpicked by Darius himself
-Each province was sub-divided into smaller areas, each having a governor.
-Chosen by the Ruling Satrap or royal court
-Each Satrap had a secretary that reported directly to Darius, to make sure Satraps didn’t
gain much power (Considered Darius’s eyes and ears)

18. Economics and Trade
 Introduced the new “Universal Currency” the Daric
 Used a coinage system to regulate trade/commerce throughout the
Persian Empire
 Two types of Daric
-Gold and Silver
-Gold could only be produced by the King
-Silver could be produced by Generals and Satraps
 Daric created huge boost to international trade
-Trade goods such as Textiles, carpets, tools, and metals began
traversing throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa
 To help trade Darius built the Royal Road, a postal system,
and commercial-based shipping*Pictured: A Golden Daric*

19. Religion and Tolerance
 Before Darius, there was no empirical religion
 Darius made the Empire’s main religion Zoroastrianism
-Ahura Mazda (Creater/God of Zoroastrainism religion)
 Darius believed Ahura appointed him to rule the empire
 Believed he had divine right to conquer enemy/rebelling lands
due to his faith
 Followed same Achaemenid tolerance as Cyrus
-Allowing conquered lands to worship their own religions.
-As long as they paid taxes and didn’t rebel
 Built temples for many religions, including Egyptian temples,
Greek Cults, and Elamite priests*Pictured: Faravahar, a Zoroastrian symbol*

20. Construction/Building
 During the Greek Campaign
-Linked the Red Sea to the Nile by building a canal
-Built a canal to connect the Red Sea to the Mediterranean
Sea
*Began many projects in Susa, Egypt, and Persepolis (Capital of Persian Empire)*
 Susa
-Built a new palace complex
 Persepolis
-Finished the construction projects left by Cyrus the Great’s
rule
-Built a palace in Pasargadae in honor of Cyrus
*Pictured: The Ruins of Persepolis*

21. Construction/Building Cont.
 Egypt
-Built many temples and restored ones that had been destroyed
-Although Zoroastrian, he helped build temples dedicated to
Egyptian Gods
-Created several roads and routes in Egypt to allow for easier trade
and travel
 Had all moments and buildings constructed written in languages of the Persians
 Employed massive amount of workers/artisans of every nationality
-Enhanced the Empire’s economy, and improved cultural relations
-All workers were paid based on their skill, and amount of work
done
*Pictured: An Egyptian shrine, that
depicts Darius the Great*

22. Language/Writing
 During the Reign of Cyrus and Darius the official language was
Elamite
-Mainly used by the Government and Commerce
 After conquering Mesopotamia Aramaic language was adopted
-Allowing for communication between the Persians and
the rest of the Empire
-Allowed for the empire to remain stable, as there was
no language barrier
 Aramaic became the official Persian Empire Language
 While Cuneiform became the official written Language
 Also spoke Greek, when having dealings with trade and
managing Greek land *Pictured: Tablet of Cuneiform, created
from Aramaic Language*

23. Map of Persian Empire After
Darius I’s Reign

24. Death
 Darius died in 486 BCE
-His body was embalmed and entombed
 He was succeeded by his son Xerxes I
-The son of Darius and his wife Atossa
 Xerxes continued the Great Persian Trilogy
-Was the last of the Persian Greats, before Empire began
declining
-Ruled from 485 BCE – 465 BCE
*Pictured: The Tomb of Darius the Great*

25. Online/Hard Text Sources
 Abott, Jacob. "History of Darius the Great." Google Books. Harvard College Library,
n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2016
 Boardman, John. "The Cambridge Ancient History." Google Books. Ed. N.G.L.
Hammond, D.M. Lewis, and M. Ostwald. Cambridge University Press, n.d.
Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
 Duchesne-Guillemin, Jacques. "Zoroastrianism." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Jan. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
 Fife, Steven. "Darius I." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History
Encyclopedia, 02 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
 Grote, George. "Persians, Darius The Great." Persians, Darius The Great. History-
world.org, n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

26. Online/Hard Text Sources Cont.
 Wikipedia. "Ahura Mazda." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11
Dec. 2016.
 Wikipedia. "Achaemenid Empire." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web.
11 Dec. 2016.
 Wikipedia. "Aramaic Alphabet." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11
Dec. 2016.
 Wikipedia. "Darius I." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.
Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

27. Visual Sources
 Google Images
-Slide 3 (Cyrus’s Symbol)
-Slide 7 (Persian Noble Carving)
-Slide 9 (Darius I Carving)
-Slide 10 (Map of Cyrus’s Empire)
-Slide 12 (Ruins of Pasargadae)
-Slide 15 (Map of Indus Valley Campaign)
-Slide 16 (Map of Persian War)
-Slide 20 (Ruins of Persepolis)
-Slide 21 (Egyptian Shrine)
-Slide 22 (Cuneiform Tablet)
 Bing Images
-Slide 4 (Dynastic Chart)
-Slide 5 (All Portraits)
-Slide 7 (Persian Ceramic Tiling)
-Slide 8 (Carving and Illustration)
-Slide 13 (Carving of Intaphernes)
-Slide 14 (Carving and Map)
-Slide 18 (Image of Daric)
-Slide 19 (Image of Faravahar)
-Slide 23 (Map after Reign)
-Slide 24 (Tomb of Darius I)
*Labeled by Slide which they appear*