Darius I. - Persian king, ruled in 522-486 BC. Under it, the Persian Empire spread over its borders and reached the highest power. She united many countries and peoples. The Persian Empire was called the "country country", and its ruler of Shahinshi - "King Kings". All subjects were unquestioned unquestioned - from noble Persians who occupied the highest posts in the state to the last slave.

He created an effective, but a very despotic country management system, which divided into 20 provinces - satrapy, providing unlimited powers to the rulers. But they were responsible for the order in the entrusted territory of their heads. Throughout the territory of the Persian Empire, special officials gathered taxes in the royal treasury. All evaded waiting for the harsh car. No one could hide from paying taxes. The roads reached the most remote corners of the Persian Empire. In order for the orders of the king faster and more reliable to reach the province, Darius established public mail. The special "royal" road joined the most important cities of the Persian Empire. Special posts were installed on it. It could only ride in state affairs. Darius updated the monetary system. With it, gold coins began to be minted, which called "Dariki". Trade flourished in the Persian Empire, a grandiose construction was carried out, crafts developed. Standardization measures and weights undergo; The function of a single trading language began to perform Aramaic; Roads and canals were built, in particular, the great royal path from the sard, in the western part of Malaya Asia, to the SUV, east of the tiger, and resumed the work of the channel, connecting the Nile with the Red Sea. Darius I built a new capital Persepol. He was erected on an artificial platform. In the tsarist palace there was a huge throne hall, where the king took ambassadors.

Darius I expanded his possessions, including the North-West of India, Armenia, Frace. The participation of the Balkan Greeks in the affairs of their relatives from Malaya Asia, captured by the Persians, made Darius decided to conquer Greece. Diva Darius on the Greeks ended unsuccessfully: the first time the storm was shoved by Persians (490 BC), the second time they were defeated in the marathon battle (486 BC). Darius died in old age, did not have time to complete the conquest, at the age of sixties, his successor was the son - Xerxes I.

The Persian Empire (the empire of the Aheremenidov, 550 - 330. BC) Cyrus II is considered the creator of the Persian Empire. He began his conquest in 550 BC. e. With the subordination of the Mussel, following which Armenia, Parfia, Cappadocia and the Lidia Kingdom were conquered. It did not interfere with the expansion of the Empire Kira and Babylon, whose powerful walls fell in 539 BC. e. Conquering neighboring areas, Persians tried not to destroy the conquered cities, but if possible, to preserve them. Cyrus restored the captured Jerusalem, like many Phoenician cities, having retaliated the return of Jews from the Babylonian captivity. The Persian Empire at Cyre spread its possessions from Central Asia to the Aegean Sea. Only Egypt remained not conquered. The country of Pharaohs conquered the heir to Kira Cambismue II. However, his heyday of the Empire reached in Daria I, which with conquest switched to internal policies. In particular, the king divided the empire for 20 satrapy, which completely coincided with the territories of captured states. In 330 BC e. The weakening Persian Empire fell under the onslasis of Alexander Macedonian troops.

The Persian Empire - from the Aheminids to Alexander the Great

Ancient Persia is a fearless, formidable, an inexorable empire who has not knew equals equal in conquests and wealth, at the head of which stood outstanding, ambitious and powerful rulers. Since the occurrence of 6 c. BC. Before conquering Alexander Macedonian in 4 c. BC. Within two and a half centuries, Persia occupied the dominant position in the ancient world. Greek domination lasted about a hundred years, and after his fall, the Persian Power was revived at two local dynasties: Arshakids (Parfyan Kingdom) and Sasanidov (Novoprasey kingdom). For more than seven centuries, they kept Rome in fear, and then Byzantium, while in 7th century. AD The state of the Sasanidov was not conquered by Islamic conquerors.

The Persian Empire was created dynasty Ahemenidov (Map 1 "The Empire of Ahemenides during its highest heyday"), which starts from Achemen, the leader of the Union of Persian tribes. Persians are a sedentary descendants of the Indo-European Aryan nomadic people, which is OK. XV century BC Profit in Eastern Iran from Central Asia and from there took Persidu in about the X century BC, displacing the Assyrians, Elamites and Haldeev from there.

Religion of Persians. In ancient times, Persians worshiped various gods. Their priests were called magicians. At the end of the first half of 1 millennia BC. e. The magician and prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) transformed an ancient Persian religion. His teaching was called Zoroastrianism. The Sacred Book of Zoroastrianism - "Avesta".

Zoroastra taught that the creator of the world is the god of good and light Ahura Mazda. His enemy is the spirit of evil and darkness Angra-Manu. They are continuously struggling among themselves, but the ultimate victory will be behind the light and good. A person must support God's Light in this struggle. Ahura Mazda was depicted in the form of a winged solar disk. He was considered a patron of the Persian kings.

Persians did not build temples and did not erect the statues of the gods. They built altars on the elevation or on the hills and they committed sacrifices.

Descendant Aheheren Kir Great (approx. 590-530 BC), Rule (558-530 BC) in Pars and Anshan (Sex. Elims - the historical region and the ancient state (III Millennium - Ser. VI. BC. er), located to the east of the lower flow of the Tiger River and northeast of the Persian Gulf, in the southwestern part of the Iranian Highlands (the territory of the modern Iranian provinces of Huzestan and Luristan)), founded a huge Persian empire. Cyrus founded the city of Pazargada (located at a distance of 87 km north-east of Persepolis, 130 km from Shiraza), which became the first capital of the Persian state. When Cyrus, after the father's death in July 558 became the king of Persian tribes, there were four major powers in the Middle East: Middis, Lydia, Babylonia and Egypt (Map 2 "Lydia, Movie and Novovavilon Kingdom at the time of capturing their Persia"), which were destined to be In the future, enter the empire. More late Empire Alexandra Macedonsky almost did not include territories that would not belong to Persians before.

The beginning of the creation of Power served in 553 BC. Rise of Persians against the mussel. Cyrus seized the Midydian capital of Ekbatana and declared himself the king, both Persia and Mussels, taking the official title of Midydian kings. Conquer 550 BC. Mondey, Cyrus over the next two years (550-548) seized the countries that were previously part of the former Middi Power: Parphy and, probably Armenia. Girkania obeyed the Persians voluntarily. In the same years, Persians captured the entire territory of Elama.

Cyrus began expanding possessions. At first, he made a campaign (546 BC) against rich and powerful Lydia, states in Malaya Asia. Crop, Tsar Lydia, anticipated the attack of Persians, taking Cappadocia and enlisted with the support of Babylonian and Egyptians. The battle at Pteryi did not bring victory to any of the parties, and then Cyrus decided to take the initiative to his hands and as a result of several rapid transitions found the creek by surprise in his winter residence in sardah. The Lidi Tsar deposited in his capital asked for help to Babylonians. Only Spartans responded on his appeals, but the Spartan Fleet did not have time to reach the sea, as the news came about the fall of the Sard (546 BC). Crespe with his family was captured, but, according to Greek sources, generously cost him. The Babylonian chronicler configured to Kiru is argued that the Lidi king was executed.

After the news of the fall of the Sard, the Greek cities of Malaya Asia hurried to send ambassadors to the Persian king. Cyrus demanded the full and unconditional delivery of all Ionian cities, with the exception of the seaport of the Mileta, to which he gave special privileges. Soon the commander of Kira won Kariya, Liku, and then the rest of Malny Asia.

Between 545 and 539 Cyrus subordinate to Drangian, Aria, Arachosya, Sattagidia, Bactria, Gandhara, Hedrosy, the territory of Hawmargic Scythians and penetrated into Central Asia, won there Margiana, Sogdian and Khorezm. Unfortunately, we do not know almost anything about these campaigns, but, apparently, the conquest of these lands was not easy. For example, according to the available information in Gandhar, Cyrus lost a significant part of his troops. Thus, the Persian domination in the East reached the North-Western borders of India, the southern opposites of the Hindukush and the Syrdarya River basin.

Only one opponent remained - Babylonia, a great power, sharing the Middle East and the Middle East and still controlled the valleys of the Tiger and Euphrates, Syria, Palestine and Arabia, as well as trade routes to Egypt and west. Nampid, the king of Babylonia, did not enjoy the love of his subjects, therefore in 539 BC. Residents of the capital opened the gate and welcomed Kira's joined in the city. Cyrus demonstrated wisdom and generosity. Residents of Babylonian cities were promised world and inviolability. He recognized Marduk (the Babylonian God) and was crowned by the king of Babylonia. Cyrus formally retained the Babylonian kingdom and changed nothing in the social structure of the country. Babylon has become one of the royal residences, Babylonians continued to occupy the prevailing position in the state apparatus, and the priestly got the opportunity to revive the ancient cults to which Kir had in every way patronized. CIR recovered temples and performed as a defender of the rights of the people. Jews, which the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar had no time, was allowed to return from reference to Jerusalem, and promulgated in 538 BC. Decree allowed them to rebuild the Jerusalem temple. After the capture of Babylonia, all Western countries to the borders of Egypt- (Syria, Palestine and Phenicia) - obeyed the Persians voluntarily.

Its own last hike Kir the Great took against Massagets - nomads who lived in the steppes between the Caspian and Aral Seas., in the northeastern borders of his power. Here, luck, so long accompanying the Persian king, he changed him: during the battle on the eastern bank of Amarya Cyrus suffered a complete defeat and died himself. According to Herodota's testimony, the triaming enemies cut off his head and threw her in a bag with blood. However, since it is known for certain that Cyrus was buried in Pazargadi, this episode is considered unreliable. The image of Kira left a deep mark in the ancient priority and ancient literature. Cyrus was considered the ideal ruler not only by Persians, but also the Greeks. Herodotus (known as the author of the first historical treatise of the Western civilization- "History" of Herodotus, - describing the Greek-Persian wars and customs of many modern peoples) indicates that the Persians called Kira "Father". The popularity of the personality of Kira in ancient times was so great that he was attributed to phenomenal abilities (for example, that he knew his soldiers named). I reign 28 years old and died at the age of 70.

Murgaba (near the ancient capital Kira Pasargad still preserved the stone tomb of Kira in the form of a house, with the king relief and the inscription: "I, Tsar Kir, Ahemedon". At least, before the time of Alexander Macedonsky, the body of the king and burned Eternal flame. In the times of the anarchy, the tomb of Alexander in India, the tomb was looted, but the Macedonian conqueror, returned, executed the robbers. However, they did not find almost no values \u200b\u200bin it, and Alexander was surprised at the modesty with which such great was buried Conqueror. When the terrain took the Arabs, there was a belief among them that the tomb belongs to the Mother of the Prophet Suleiman (King Solomon). With the name of Solomon Legend, other Pasargad facilities were connected, which perhaps saved them from destruction, comprehended by other ahemedic antiquities.

Cyrus did not name his receiver, and after his death struggle for the throne, in which the son of Kera Cambis II was first, then, then Magic Guamata, who made a coup against Cambiss. But the winner was Darius I (550-486 BC), a representative of the younger line of Ahemenide, who was proclaimed by the king after the murder of Guamata (522 BC). Upon joining the throne, he was 28 years old. For the final consolidation of their rights to the royal power, Darius married the daughter of Kira II ATOSS.

Darius became a worthy receiver Kira. He got a rebellious Persia, which he was able to subordinate to himself. In the course of 20 battles, in which about 150 thousand rebels died, the power of the Persian king was restored throughout the Power. The victories of Darius over the rebels are explained not only by his gift of the commander, but, largely, the lack of unity between nations. Darius supported the regiments of the Tsarskoy Guard, the army of the remaining loyal satrapses and garrison troops, which, as a rule, consisted of alien in each region. By these troops, the Darius used very skillfully, unmistakably defining which rebellion at the moment is most dangerous. Not being able to conduct punitive operations at the same time in all directions, Darius suppressed one uprising, and then the same army with the help of which the first uprising was suppressed, threw against other rebels.

Under Daria, the Persian Empire spread over its borders and reached the highest power. Between 519 and 512 BC e. - Associate the islands of the Aegean Sea, Frace, Macedonia and the North-West part of India. Although the Darius strengthened and expanded the conquest of his ancestors, but left a trace in Persian history as an administrator.

Darius spent a number of reforms. He divided the state into 20 administrative and consulting districts, which were called satrapy. Basically, the borders of satrapy coincided with the old state and ethnographic borders of countries that were part of the Empire. At the head of the districts, they also stood as before the satrapy, only now they were appointed not from local officials, but from the Persian environments, in the hands of which all the leading positions of the country were concentrated. With Cyre II (Great) and Cambiss II, civil and military functions were combined in the hands of satrapses. Now the satrapaes turned exclusively in civilian governors.

Darius installed new nationwide tax system. All satrapy were obliged to pay strictly recorded cash taxes set by accounting by the number of land treated and the degree of fertility. Taxes were also charged with temples in conquered areas.

In the country was introduced official languageWith which Aramaic became, which facilitated the relationship between the multinational population of the country.

Darius introduced in the Ahemedid Power mint, which is the basis of a single monetary system for the entire empire, namely the Golden Dark weighing 8.4 g. The golden coins were prerogative only the Persian king. Due to the fact that Dariq contained only 3% of the impurities, he held the main gold coin in the trading world for several centuries.

In order for the orders of the king faster and more reliable to reach the province, Darius established public mail.

It was also necessary to solve the issue of communications between parts of a huge empire: wide, caused by stone expensive. The main of them led to Ephesus. The road is 6 m wide and a length of 2500 km. called the "royal way." This outstanding engineering structure was built on the century. So that the groundwater is not blocked by the road, she was laid on the embankment, which either absorbed, or took water. Along the way was 111 making every 30 km. They could relax and change the horses. The road was guarded. She contributed primarily to the development of international trade, which has achieved unprecedented scale. The Roman Roads did not have drainage, and this road lies on a cushion from rubble and ideal for riding and horseradish transport.

Darius I built a new capital Parsu, known to the Greeks as Persepol ("Persian City"), ranked fourth residence along with Pazargadi, Etbatans and Susami.

Persepole was built on an artificial platform, which was built by G. Great Between 520 and 515 BC. Buildings, the ruins of which were preserved to the present days, were erected by Gotov and his successors: Xerxes (Rule in 486-465 BC) And Artaxerxes I (rule in 465-424 BC).

In the tsarist palace there was a huge throne hall, where the king took ambassadors. On the walls towering along wide stairs, the Guard "Immortal" is depicted. Thus called the selected royal army, numbering 10 thousand soldiers. When one of them perished, he immediately interpreted another. "Immortal" armed with long spears, massive bows, heavy shields. They served the "eternal" guard of the king. Persepol built all Asia. This is evidenced by an ancient inscription.

On the walls of Persepol, the "procession of peoples", part of the Persian Power, was permitted. Representatives of each of them carry rich gifts - gold, precious products, lead horses, camels, cattle. Before building the city was developed, the water supply and sewage system was developed - the first in the ancient world. The construction worked, first of all, slaves. But Darius, like Cyrus, paid their work. The city was protected by a triple strengthening system, including the line of walls and towers, held along the ridge of the mountain.

Darius was required to keep the remote territory under control - North Africa, he decides to pave the path and there. Engineers were developed by the Draft Channel connecting the Red and Mediterranean Sea with a length of 200km. The breakthrough channel was sulfted from the sand and covered with a stone. The path to the courts was open. Construction lasted 7 years in the main Egyptian farms and bricklayers. Part of the channel was land. Through the hills, the ships were dragged by the wolf. When the relief dropped, they were again descended into the water. To start. V c. BC. Persia became the greatest empire in history. She surpassed Roman during her dawn.

In 494 BC A rebellion broke out in the Turkish shore, which was supported by Athens. And Darius decided to teach them a lesson - to go for them. But Athens over the sea. And he builds a pontoon bridge over the Bosphorus based on a set of boats, which were held by the anchors of a certain weight. They have already done solid flooring. On this bridge, 70,000 soldiers entered Greece. Darius captured Macedonia and walked over to the marathon. The Greek army was 10 times less than Persian, he was required to reinforce. The legendary messenger ran the distance from Marathon to Sparta in two days (hence the origin of the phrase marathon running). Two troops stood against each other. In an open fight, Persians would simply crumple the Greeks. But the Greeks were divided: part of the troops went to Persians, and the main army, sharing the two detachments, was attached from the flanks. Loss of heavy losses, the Persians retreated. For the Greeks it was a great victoryFor Persians - an annoying misunderstanding. Darius decided to return to his capital, but did not come there. In 486 BC. Hike to Egypt Darius dies aged 64 years. The tomb of Darius decorated with numerous works of sculpture is in the cliffs of the Neck Rustam near Persepole. He prevented chaos, calling the receiver in advance - his son Xerxes, the last great monarch from the Aheminide dynasty.

It was not easy to stand up with Kirome and Darius. But Xerxes He possessed wonderful quality: he could wait to wait. At first he suppressed the uprising in Babylon, then in Egypt and only then went to Greece. They say he wanted to complete the case started by the Father. But the Greeks have not experienced fear over the Persians after the marathon battle. A photocopies wound with the support of Carthage and decided to attack the Greeks from the sea. The world was on the threshold of the second Persian war, the outcome of which will lay the basis of the modern world.

Xerxes vigorously prepare for a new campaign against Greece. He used the entire engineering experience gained to this. During the course of several years, work was carried out on the construction of the channel through the experiencing on Chalkidik. Numerous employees from Asia and the surrounding coast were driven for the construction. Food warehouses were created along the shores of Frakia, two pontoon bridges in length of 7 stages (about 1360 m) each were transferred through Gellespont. The reliability of the bridge allowed Xerks to transfer troops to and back as needed. For a while, Europe joined Asia. In the summer of 480, the Persian army, which appears on the studies of modern historians about 75 thousand people began to forward through Gellespont. The idea was simple: use a numerical advantage on land and at sea. The Greeks knew that on sushi they would not defeat the Persians and decided to lure them into the trap. They took the basic forces, leaving me to meet the Persians only 6,000 Spartans. In August, 480 Persians approached the Farmopil Gorge. The army of Persians stuck into the gorge for several days. The price of huge losses of Persians broke through the gorge and went to Athens. But when Xerxes entered Athens, the city was empty. He realized that he was spent. For centuries, grace to defeated was a distinctive feature of the Persian kings, but not this time. He burned Athens Dotley. The next day, Xerxes regretted it, but it was too late. What's done is done. After 2 centuries, his anger brought the trouble of the Persia itself. But this war was not over. The Greeks were preparing a new trap: they lured the fleet of Persians to the narrow bay of Salamin. Numerous Persian ships prevented each other and could not maneuver. Heavy Greek tries taranized the light galers of Persians one after another. This battle decided the outcome of war. Armored xerox retreated. From now on, the Persian Empire has not been invincible. In battle, Salamin took part only woman - Artemisia - the only woman captain of the Persian fleet (Carian Queen). She rammed one of his ships, was doomed to death and managed to leave in the turmoil. Athens come into their golden age, and the Persian Empire becomes vulnerable. The last crushing blow to her will apply the king, who admired the kings of Persia since childhood.

Persia lost the halolessness of invincibility in battle of SalaminBut there was still days and glory ahead of her. After 15 years, Xerxes dies, the throne inherit his son Artaxerks. He decided to revive the Golden Days of Persia. He returned to the project of his grandfather Daria, after 4 decades from the moment of the foundation, Persepol was not yet completed. He personally led the construction of the last outstanding engineering project of the Persian Empire - today it is called the hall of a hundred columns. The 60x60 meters hall represented the almost perfect square in the plan. The columns do not have the slightest deviation from the vertical. But at the disposal of the builders were primitive tools Stone hammers and bronze chisels. Each column consists of 7-8 drums supplied by one on another. The columns were erected by forests, and the drums were raised with a wooden crane, like a well caravel. All came to the admiration from the forest of columns, leaving how much vision is available. In the whole of the empire, unprecedented engineering structures were built. In 353 BC. The wife of one of the rulers of the Karya province began to build a tomb in a dying husband in her capital Galicarnassa (Bodrum, Turkey). Her creation has become not only a miracle of modern engineering art, but also one of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world: tomb of the king of Malsol (Mausoleum). This monumental 24-speed stone pyramid with a height of 49 meters erected a talented architect and theoretical architecture of Pilli. Mausoleum consisted of two tiers. The first chamber was placed in the first, in the second - a funeral temple. Between his thirty-six columns were sculptures, and the pyramid with a quadrigoy - sculpture depicting a group of horses harvested in the chariot, which was ruled by the king of Malsol. After eighteen centuries, the earthquake destroyed the mausoleum to the ground. In 1489, Christian knights - Joannites began to use his wreckage for the castle, which they were erected nearby. After a few years, the knights discovered the tomb of Malsol and Artemisia. But they left burial at night without guard, and it was looted by the marauders who were attracted by gold and jewels.

Another 300 years have passed before archaeologists have begun here to excavations. They opened parts of the base of the Mausoleum, as well as statues and reliefs that were not broken or stolen. Among them were huge statues depicting archaeologists, king and queen. In 1857, these finds were transported to the British Museum in London. IN last years They spent new excavations, and now only a handful of stones remained in this place in Bodrum. After 2500 years, the memorial of President Ulysses Grant was built in the US (New York). By 4 century BC. The best engineers in the world remained Persians. But the foundation under ideal columns and palaces was stupid. The enemies of the empire were at the threshold.

Athens support the uprising in Egypt. The Greeks are included in Memphis, ArupSerks starts the war and throws the Greeks from Memphis and restores the power of Persians in Egypt. It was the last major victory of the Persian Empire. In May 424, after almost 41 years of the board, Artaxerxes died. Equality in the country lasts 8 decades. Persia is torn off crossboards. And at that time, the young king of Macedonia studies Herodota and chronicles of the board of the hero of Persia Kira Great. Already then, he has a dream to conquer the whole world.

In 336, the distant relative of the Artaxerks comes to power and adopts the royal name Darius III. He will be called the king who lost the empire. In the next four years, Alexander Macedonian and Darius III have repeatedly met in brutal battles. Daria's troops stepped back step by step. In 330, Alexander approached Persepol. Alexander perceived the politics politics to defeated from Persians. He forbade warriors to rob the countries conquered. But how to keep them after the victory over the greatest empire, maybe they remembered the burned Athens? They behaved this time differently: to celebrate the victory began with robbery, and finished arson. Persepol was burned. Darius III fled, but soon he was killed by one of the allies. Alexander gave him a magnificent funeral and took his daughter to his wife, and proclaimed himself as Agemenid - the king of Persia, and fitted the last chapter in the history of the giant empire. Alexander found the killers of Darius and his own defeated their death. He believed that only the king was eligible to kill the king. Alexander did not create an empire, and captured the one that was already long before his birth, but created her the Great.

3 But I
2013

Ancient Persians: fearless, decisive, inflexible. They created the empire, which has been a symbol of greatness and wealth.

Creating such a huge empire as Persian, impossible without military superiority.

The Empire of Vigilant, ambitious kings spread from North Africa to Central Asia. It was one of the few who rightfully can be called great. Persians created amazing, unprecedented engineering structures - luxurious palaces in the middle of the fruitless desert, roads, bridges and canals. About Suez Channel heard each, and who about daria Channel?

But on the horizon clouds thickened. The eternal struggle with Greece resulted in a clash, which turned the course of history and determined the face of the Western world for the Millennium ahead.

Water transformation

330 BC.

While they were nomaded, they were not to capture the territory, but with the transition to agriculture they were interested in fertile land and, naturally, water.

The ancient Persians would leave in history and trail, no sorts they find sources And the main thing is the method of transferring water to its fields. We admire their engineering genius because they took water not from rivers and lakes, but in the most unexpected place - in the mountains.

Persia arose from nothing exclusively thanks to the persistence of man.

Three thousand years ago, the ancient Persians were naked in the Iranian Highlands. Sources of water rarely came across. Mahandi - engineers, geologists and at the same time came up with how to give the people the water.

The primitive guns of Mahandi laid the first stone for the basis of the Persian Empire - underground channel system, so-called rope. They used the earthly attraction and the natural slope of the area from to.

At first they dug the vertical mine and lay a small portion of the tunnel, then the next approximately in a kilometer from the first and led the tunnel on.

20 and 40 kilometers could be before the water source. Pour a tunnel with a constant bias so that it goes into the mountains continuously, not possessing knowledge and skills, it is impossible.

The angle of the slope was constant all over the tunnel and not too large, otherwise the water would blur the base, and naturally, not too small so that the water is not stored.

2 thousand years before the legendary Roman aqueducts Persians dragged huge masses of water for considerable distances In a dry hot climate with minimal losses due to evaporation.

- Founder of the dynasty. This dynasty has reached a bloom in the king.

To create an empire, Kira took talents not only to the commander, but also a policy: he knew how to win the location of the people. Historians name is his humanist, the Jews called Masha - Anointed, the people called him by his father, and conquered and - a fair ruler and benefactor.

Cyrus Great came to power in 559 BC. With it, the dynasty becomes great.

The story changes the course, and a new style appears in the architecture. Among the rulers who had the greatest impact of the story, the Kir great was one of the few who deserves this epithet: he dosto called Great.

The empire that Cyrus created was the biggest empire Ancient Mira Unless the largest in the history of mankind.

By 554 BC. Cyrus crushed all rivals and became the sole ruler of Persia. It remained to conquer the whole world.

But the Great Emperor primarily applies to have the brilliant capital. In 550 BC Cyrus proceeds to implement a project equal to which an ancient world has not yet known: builds the first capital of the Persian Empire On the territory of the current Iran.

Cyrus was builder - innovator And very talented. In his projects, he skillfully applied experience gained during conquering campaigns.

Like later Romans, Persians borrowed ideas in conquered peoples And based on their own new technologies. In Pasargady, we encounter motives inherent in cultures, and.

Kamenotesov, carpenters, brick and relief cases of masters were overlooking the capital from all over the empire. Today, after two and a half thousand years, the ancient ruins are all that remained from the first magnificent capital of Persia.

Two palaces in the center of Pasargad surrounded the flowering gardens and extensive regular parks. It is here that arose "Paradisia" - Parks with a rectangular layout. The gardens were laid channels with a total length of a thousand meters lined with a stone. Every fifteen meters were pools. Two thousand years old the best parks in the world were created by Pasargad Paradisi.

For the first time, parks with geometrically correct rectangular sections appear in the pasargades, with flowers, cypresses, meadow herbs and other vegetation, as in the present parks.

As long as Pasargady, Cyrus joined one kingdom after another. But Cyrus was not like other kings: he did not addate defeated in slavery. According to the standards of the ancient world - the case is unheard of.

He admitted the right to his own faith for defeated and did not prevent their religious rites.

In the 539th year BC Cyrus took BabylonBut not as the invader, but as a liberator, which rescued the people from Uga Tirana. He committed unheard - liberated the Jews from the captivity, in which they were staying since the destroyed. Cyrus freed them. By today's language, Kiru had a buffer state between his empire and his enemy - Egypt. So what? The main thing - that no one did to him, and very few after. Not in vain in the Bible, he is the only one of the Jews called Masha -.

As one prominent scientist from Oxford said: "The press spoke well about Kiru."

But, not having time to turn Persia to the only superpower of the ancient world, in the 530th year BC Kirwe's great dies in battle.

He lived too little and did not have time to express himself in peaceful conditions. The same happened with, he also defeated the enemies, but also he was killed, did not have time to consolidate the empire.

By the time of the death of Cyrus, Persia had three capitals:, and. But buried him in Pazargadi, in the tomb under the character.

Cyrus did not chase his honors, they neglected them. His tomb has no finished jewelry: very simple, but elegant.

Cyrus Cyrus is built on the same technology that was used in the West. With the help of ropes and mounds, the blocks of stone were stacked one on another. Its height is 11 meters.

- Very simple, deliberately modest monument to the creator of the biggest empire for his time. Perfectly preserved, if you consider that it was built by the 25th centuries ago.

Persepol - Monument of the greatness and glory of Persia

For three decades, no one and nothing could withstand Kiru Great. When the throne was empty, the vacuum of power is the ancient world in chaos.

In the 530th year BC The Great, the architect of the greatest empire of the ancient world, dies. The future of Persia is shuttered by darkness of unknown. Begins a fierce struggle between applicants.

Finally, comes to power far relative Kira, outstanding commander. He restores the law and order in the Persian Empire. His name is . He will become the greatest king of Persia And one of the greatest builders of all time.

He immediately takes about the case and rebuilds the old capital of the desi. Builds the palaces lined with glazed tiles. The splendor of the SUV is mentioned even in the Bible.

But the new king was needed a new official capital. 518th year BC Darius proceeds to the embodiment of the most grandiose project of the ancient world. Not far from the current he builds that he is in Greet "Persian City". All palaces are constructed on a single stone platform to emphasize the inviolability of the empire.

Giant square a hundred twenty-five thousand square meters. He had to change the terrain: tear the elevations and build the retaining walls. He wanted the city to be visible from afar, because he put it on the platform. She gave the city a unique majestic look.

Persepol - unique engineering construction With walls 18 and a thickness of 10 meters and halls with bizarre columns.

The workers were withdrawn from all corners of the Empire. Most of the ancient empires were built on slave labor, but Darius, like Cyrus, preferred to pay those who build palaces.

Workers installed the norms of production, women worked here. The norm was established depending on forces and qualifications, and paid accordingly.

He spent not in vain: Persepol became monument of the greatness and glory of Persia.

We must not forget about the origin of the Persians: their ancestors were nomads and lived in tents. Leaving the parking lot, they took the tents with them. Tents firmly entered the tradition.

Persepol Palaces are tents frown to stone. Abadan - This is nothing but a stone tent. Abadan is called the Garden Hall of Darius.

Monumental stone columns are inspired by the memories of wooden poles, which supported the linen roof of the tents. But here instead of the canvas we see an exquisite cedar. The nomadic past had an impact on the architecture of Persians, but not only it.

Palaces were decorated with gold and silver, carpets and glazed tiles. Walls covered reliefs, We see peaceful processions of conquered countries.

But the engineering structures of Persepole were not limited to the city outside the city. It was water supply and sewage system, the first in the ancient world.

Engineers Darius began with what was created drainage system, Sewage pipes were laid and only then erected the platform. Clean water entered the ropes, and wastewater Leaving through the sewer. The whole system was underground and outside is not visible.

"Tsar's Way" and the Darius Channel

The implementation of the grand projects to the fame of the empire did not interfere with the giving of the border. Under Darius, the Persian Empire reached a breathtaking dimension: Iran and Pakistan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Central Asia to India itself.

Two Darius projects made a unified empire: One, with a length of two and a half thousand kilometers, tied the remote provinces, the second - the Red Sea with Mediterranean.

Under Daria, Great Persian empire reached huge sizes. He decided to strengthen her unity, tied the distant provinces among themselves.

515 BC. Darius commands to build a roadwhich will pass through the whole empire from Egypt to India. The road with a length of two and a half thousand kilometers called.

Outstanding engineering structure: the road through the mountains, forests and deserts was built on the century. They did not have asphalt, but they knew how to ram gravel and crushed stone.

The solid coating is especially important where the groundwater is not deep. So that the legs do not slide, and the carts are not tumbled in the mud, the road was packed by mound.

At first, they laid the "pillow", which either absorbed or dug out groundwater from the road.

At the "tsarway" there were 111 making every 30 kilometers, where travelers could relax and change the horses. Throughout the road guarded.

But that's not all. Daria was required to keep such a remote territory as North Africa, he decided to pave the way and there. His engineers developed a project canal between Mediterranean and Red Seas.

Darius builders, hydrology connoisseurs, with the help of guns from bronze and iron, first broke through the channel, then cleaned from the sand and posted a stone. The path to the courts was open.

The construction of the canal lasted 7 years, and built it mainly by Egyptian farms and bricklayers.

In some places, the canal between the Nil and the Red Sea was, in fact, not by water, but a paved road: through the hills, the ships were dragged by the wolf, and when the terrain fell asleep, they again descended to water.

The words of Daria are known: "I, Darius, King Kings, the conqueror of Egypt, built this channel." It connected the Red Sea with the Nile And proudly stated: "In my channel, ships went."

By the beginning of the fifth century before our era, Persia became the greatest empire in history. It was superior to Roman in the period of four centuries late. Persia was invincible, her expansion was anxious of a young culture that joined the lifting phase, - Greek cities-states.

Black Sea. Strait is a narrow strip of water, it connects the Black Sea with Mediterranean. On the one side of the shore - Asia, and on the other - Europe. In 494 BC. a rebellion flared on the Turkish bank. The rebels were supported by Athens, and Darius decided to teach them a lesson - to go for them. But how? Athens for the sea ...

He builds through the strait pontoon bridge. It writes that 70 thousand warriors entered Greece on this bridge. Fiction!

Persian engineers put across the Bosporus side by a lot of boats, they became the basis of the bridge. And then laid on top of the road and connected Asia with Europe.

Probably, for reliability under flooring from the boards, a layer of the rammed land was laid and even probably logs. So that the boats do not swing on the waves and did not take hold anchors Strictly defined weight.

The flooring was solid, otherwise he would not resist the weight of the set of warriors and shocks of the waves. A striking structure for the era, when there were no computers!

Darius Great

In August 490 BC BC. Darius captured Macedonia and came up Marathon where he was met by the United Army and commanded.

Persian army counted 60, 140 or 250 thousand people - depending on who to believe. In any case, the Greeks were 10 times less, they needed reinforcement.

The legendary messenger ran the distance from the marathon to 2 days. Have you heard about?

Two troops stood face to face on a wide plain. In an open battle, superior in the number of Persians would simply be crumpled by the Greeks. So was the beginning of Persian wars.

Part of the Greek troops went to the attack on the Persians, it was not difficult to smash their Persians. But the main army of the Greeks was divided into two detachments: they attacked Persians from flanks.

Persians got into a meat grinder. Loss of heavy losses, they retreated. For the Greeks, it was a great victory, for Persians - only an annoying bump on the way to world domination.

Darius i decided to return home In his favorite capital Persepol, but never returned: in 486 BC hike to Egypt Darius dying.

He left the heir to the empire, who changed the concept of what glory and greatness. He prevented chaos, calling the successor in advance - his son.

Xerxes - the last of the Achemenidov dynasty

Stand over with an innovator Kirome and Expansionist Darius - the task is not easy. But Xerxes possessed a wonderful quality: he knew how to wait. He suppressed one uprising in Babylon, another in Egypt, and only then went to Greece. Greeks stood with his bone in his throat.

Some historians say that he put a preventive strike, others, - that he wanted to complete the case started by the Father. Be that as it may, after Marathon battle The Greeks have no longer experienced fear of Persians. So enlisted support, it is in the present, and decided attack the Greeks from the sea.

480th year BC. Persian empire at the peak of glory, it is huge, strong and incredibly rich. Since the Greeks have defeated Giving Granny in the Marathon, ten years have passed. Power in the hands of the son of Darius - Xerxes - the last great monarch from the dynasty of Ahemenide.

Xerxes craves revenge. Greece becomes a serious opponent. The Union of State Cities is fragile: they are too different - from democracy to tyranny. But they are united by one - hatred for Persia. Ancient world on the threshold Second Persian War. Its outcome will lay the basis of the modern world.

The Greeks traditionally called everyone, except for themselves, barbarians. Rivalry between East and West began with the confrontation of Persia and Greece.

In the invasion of Persia to Greece, as ever before in military history, used to solve the strategic task engineering. The operation that combined land acts with maritime, demanded new engineering solutions.

Xerxes decided to enter Greece on the coastal of the mountain ATOS.. But the sea was too stormy, and Xerxes commanded build a channel through the experiencing. Thanks to considerable experience and reserves, the channel channel was built in just 6 months.

To this day, their decision remains in military history one of the most prominent engineering projects. Using the experience of the Father, Xerxes commanded to build pontoon bridge Through Gellespont. This engineering project was much larger than the bridge, built by Godiam on the Bosphorus.

As pontoons were used 674 ship. How to ensure the reliability of the design? Sophisticated engineering task! Bosphorus is not a quiet harbor, the excitement there is very strong.

Ships held in place with special System ropes. The two longest rope stretched from Europe to Asia itself. At the same time, it is impossible to forget that the bridge had to pass many warriors, perhaps up to 240 thousand.

Ropes made a flexible structure, which is needed by excitement. Each section of the bridge consisted of two ships connected by the dyss. Such a bridge held the blows of the waves and quenched their energy.

Persian engineers joined the ships with a dumplings, and the road itself was put on top of it. Gradually, the board behind the board, a reliable road on the supports from warships grown through Gellespont.

We should not forget that the road kept the weight of not only hiking warriors, but also tens of thousands of riders, including heavy cavalry. The reliability of the floating design allowed Xerxes to transfer troops to Europe and back as needed: the bridge did not disassemble.

For some time, Europe and Asia accounted for one whole.

After 10 days the bridge was ready. Xerxes entered Europe. The bridge passed a huge number of hiking warriors and heavy cavalry. He endured not only the weight of the army, but also the head of the Bosphorus waves.

The plan of Xerxes was simple: use numerical superiority On land and at sea.

And again the army of the Greeks he headed the feminocles. He understood that on land, he did not overcome the Persians, and he decided persian fleet to trap.

Hidden from Persians, the feminocles took the basic forces, leaving for the cover of a detachment of 6 thousand Spartans.

In August 480 BC. The opponents agreed into, so narrow that two chariots could not disperse in it.

The huge army of Persians stuck into the gorge for several days, the Greeks counted on it. They are overall XerxesAs before his father.

Price of huge losses Persians broke through Fermopily, destroying the Spartans who sacrificed the feminocl, and let's go to Athens.

But when Xerxes entered Athens, the city was empty. Xerxes realized that he was spent, and decided to take revenge on the Athenians.

For centuries, grace to defeated was a distinctive feature of the Persian kings. But not this time: not in Persian, he burned Athens Dotla. And immediately repentable.

The next day he commanded to rebuild Athens again. But late: what is done, then done. Two centuries, his anger brought the trouble of the Persia itself.

But this war was not over. Femistokl preparing the Persians a new trap: He lured the Persian fleet to the narrow bay y and suddenly attacked Persians.

Numerous Persian ships prevented each other and could not maneuver. Heavy Greek tagged light Persians one after another.

it the battle decided the outcome of war: Crumbled Xerxes retreated. From now on, the Persian Empire has not been invincible.

He decided revive "Golden Days" of Persia. He returned to the project started by the grandfather. Four decades after the foundation, Persepol was still not completed. Artaxerxers personally led the construction of the last outstanding engineering project of the Persian Empire. Today we call him "Boy of a hundred columns".

Hall, sixty-sixty meters in terms of almost perfect square. The most amazing thing in the purseping columns is that if you mentally continue them up, they will go to dozens and hundreds of meters into the sky. They are ideal, not the slightest deviation from the vertical. And they had only primitive tools at their disposal: stone hammers and bronze chisels. And all! Meaning persepol columns are ideal. Over them worked real masters of their case. Each column consists of seven-eight drums set by one on another. The columns were erected by forests, and the drums were raised with a wooden crane like a well crane. "

Any satrap, any ambassador to this country, and in general, anyone came to admiration for the fortune of the forest of columns, leaving to the distance as far as the band. "

Unheard of ancient world engineering structures were built on all empires.

In 353 BC The ruler's wife is one of the provinces began building a tomb in a dying husband. Her creation was not only miracle of Engineering Artbut also one of Seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. , Mausoleum.

The height of the majestic marble facility exceeded 40 meters. On the pyramidal roof the stairs were raised - steps "to heaven".

After two and a half thousand years, the sample of this mausoleum was built in New York.

Fall of the Persian Empire

By the 4th century BC. persians remained the best engineers in the world. But the foundation under perfect columns and luxurious palaces was stupid: the enemies of the empire were at the threshold.

Athens support uprising in Egypt. Greeks include B. Memphis. Artaxerxes starts war, throws the Greeks from Memphis and restores the power of Persians in Egypt.

It was last major victory of the Persian Empire. In the 424th year BC Artaxerxes dying. Unfortunately in the country continues a lot of eight dozen years.

So far, Persia is engaged in intrigues and civilians, the young king of Macedonia studies Herodota and chronicles of the board of the hero of Persia - Kira Great. Already then he is born dream to conquer the whole world. Name it.

In the 336th, the far relative of the Artaxerks comes to power to power and takes a royal name. He will be called the king who lost the empire.

In the next four years, Alexander and Darius the Third more than once met in brutal battles. Daria's troops stepped back step by step.

In the 330th year BC, Alexander approached the pearl in the imperial crown of Persia - Persepol.

Alexander perceived from Persians mercy politics to the defeated: He forbade his warriors to rob the conquered countries. But how to keep them after the victory over the greatest empire in the world? Maybe they were too broken, could disobedience, and could remember how Persians burned Athens?

Be that as it may, in the peresopole they behaved differently: they celebrated victoryAnd what holiday without robbery?

Celebrations ended in the most famous arson in history: Persepol was burned.

Alexander was not a destroyer. Perhaps the burning of Persepole was a symbolic act: he burned the city as a symbol, and not for the sake of destruction itself.

There were a lot of drapes and carpets in the houses, the fire could start randomly. Why a person who declared himself with Ahemedide, burn Persepol? There were no fire trucks at that time, the fire quickly spread around the city and it was impossible to redeem it.

Got the third managed to escape, but in the summer of 330th to our era he was killed by one From allies. The dynasty of the achemenide was interrupted.

Alexander gave birth to the third lush funeral and later he took his daughter.

Alexander proclaimed himself to Ahemedid - the king of Persians and entered the last chapter in the history of the Giant Empire, which existed 2700 years.

Alexander i found the killers of Darius And personally betrayed from death. He believed that only the king was eligible to kill the king. But would he kill Daria? Maybe not, because Alexander did not create an empire, and captured the one that was already. And created her Cyrus Great.

Alexander could make his empire, which existed long before his birth. And after his death, cultural and engineering achievements of Persia would be the property of all mankind.

The Persian Power had a huge impact on the history of the ancient world. The State of Ahemenide extended by a small tribal union existed about two hundred years. Mention of puff and power of the country of Persians is in many ancient sources, including in the Bible.

Start

For the first time, the mention of Persians is found in Assyrian sources. In the inscription dated ІХ in BC. e., It contains the name of the land of Parsua. Geographically, this area was located in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Central Zagros, and in the said period, the population of this area paid tribute to the Assyrians. Combining tribes has not yet existed. Assyrians mention 27 of the kingdoms under control. In the VII century Persians, apparently, joined the tribal union, because the sources mentioned the kings from the Ahemenide tribe. The history of the Persian Power begins from 646 BC, when the ruler of Persians became Kir І.

In the reign of Kira, the Persians significantly expanded the territory controlled by him, including the most part of the Iranian plateau. At the same time, the first capital of the Persian Persian Power - Pasargada is founded. Part of the Persians was engaged in agriculture, part

The emergence of the Persian Power

At the end of the VI century. BC e. The Persian people of Rules Cambiz I, which was dependent on the kings of the Musseli. The son of Cambiza, Cyrus II, became the dominion of sedentary Persians. Information about the ancient Persian people is scarce and sniffing. Apparently, the main cell of society was a patriarchal family, headed by a man who had the right to dispose of life and the property of his loved ones. Community, first generic, and later, rural, for several centuries, was a powerful force. Several communities formed a tribe, several tribes could already be called the people.

The emergence of the Persian Power accounted for at the time when the entire Middle East was divided between the four states: Egypt, Middi, Lydia, Babylonia.

Even in the era of his heyday, the mussel was actually a fragile tribal union. Thanks to the victories, the Caucasar of the Midius conquered the state of Urartu and the ancient country Elam. Descendants of Kiashara could not keep the conquest of their grand ancestor. Permanent war with Babylonus demanded the presence of troops on the border. It was weakened by the internal policy of mussels than the vassals of the Midydian king and took advantage.

Board of Kira II.

In 553, Cyrus II raised an uprising against Midwy, which Persians paid tribute for several centuries. The war lasted three years and ended with a crushing defeat of Midyan. The capital of the Mussels (Ettaabany) became one of the residence of the ruler of Persians. Conquer an ancient country, Cyrus II formally retained the Midiy kingdom and accepted the titles of Midydian Vladyk. So the formation of the Persian Power began.

After the seizure of Middia, Persia declared itself as a new state in world history, and during the two centuries played an important role in the events taking place in the Middle East. In 549-548 The newly formed state conquered Elam and subjugated a number of countries that were part of the former mushy-powered power. Parphy, Armenia, Girket began to pay tribute to new Persian rulers.

War with Lydia

Crop, the Lord of the Mighty Lydia, realized, what a dangerous opponent is the Persian Power. A number of unions with Egypt and Sparta were concluded. However, the allies did not happen to begin full-scale military actions. Cresre did not want to wait for the help and spoke alone against the Persians. In the decisive battle under the capital of Lydia - Sarda, Krezov brought his Connection to the battlefield, which was considered invincible. Cyrus II put the warriors riding camels. Horses, seeing unknown animals, refused to obverse, the Lidius riders were forced to fight on foot. The unequal battle was completed by the retreat of the leaders, after which the sarda was taken in the siege of Persians. Of the former allies, only Spartans decided to come to the rescue. But, while the campaign was preparing, Sarda fell, and Persians submitted to their Lidia.

Expansion of borders

Then there was a queue of Greek policies, which were in the territory after a number of major victories and suppressing the rents of Persians submitted policies to themselves, thereby acquiring the opportunity to use in battles

At the end of the 6th century, the Persian Power has expanded its borders to the northwestern regions of India, to Cordonov Gindukusha and subjugated the tribes living in the river basin. Syrdarya. Only after strengthening the boundaries, the suppression of the rebellion and the establishment of the royal power of Cyrus II drew attention to the powerful Babylonium. On October 20, 539, the city fell, and Cyrus II became the official ruler of Babylon, and at the same time the lord of one of the largest powers of the ancient world - the Persian kingdom.

Cambiza Board

Cyrus died in battle with massagets in 530 BC. e. His politics successfully spent the son of Cambiz. After a thorough preliminary diplomatic training, Egypt, the next opponent of Persia, turned out to be in complete loneliness and could not count on the support of the allies. Cambiz made a father's intent and conquered Egypt in 522 BC. e. Meanwhile, in the Persia itself, the rebellious displeasure and broke out. Cambiz hurried to his homeland and died on the road under mysterious circumstances. After some time, the ancient Persian Power provided the opportunity to receive power to the representative of the younger branch of the Ahemenide - Giving Gistas.

Beginning of the board of Darius

The seizure of power by Darius і caused discontent and ropes in enslaved Babylonia. The leader of the rebels declared himself the son of the last Babylonian lord and became referred to in Nebuchadonononorone III. In December 522 BC e. Darius і won. The leaders of the rebels were committed to a public execution.

Punitive actions were distracted by Darius, and in the meantime, the rebellions rose in mussels, elama, poirs and other areas. It took the new ruler for more than a year to pacify the country and restore the state of Keira II and Cambiz in the same borders.

In the period between 518 and 512, the Persian Power conquered Macedonia, Frace and part of India. This time is considered to be a flourishing of the ancient kingdom of Persians. The state of world importance united under its power dozens of countries and hundreds of tribes and peoples.

Social device of ancient Persia. Darius reforms

The Persian power of the achemenidov was distinguished by a large variety of social styles and customs. Babylonia, Syria, Egypt long before Persia was considered highly developed states, and the recently conquered tribes of the nomads of Scythian and Arabic origin were still at the stage of primitive lifestyles.

Relief chain 522-520. showed the ineffectiveness of the previous board scheme. Therefore, Darius I conducted a number of administrative reforms and created a steady system of state control over the conquered peoples. The result of reforms was the first effective administrative system in history, which served as the rulers of the achemenids not one generation.

Effective management apparatus is a visual example of how the rules of the Persian Power Darius. The country was divided into administrative and consulting districts that were called satrapy. The sizes of satrapy were much larger than the territories of early states, and in some cases coincided with the ethnographic borders of the ancient peoples. For example, Satrapia Egypt geographically almost completely coincided with the borders of this state before the conquest of his Persians. Managed states of state officers - Satraps. In contrast to the predecessors who were looking for their governors among the nobility of the conquered peoples, Dariya і put on these positions exclusively nobles of Persian origin.

Functions of governors

Earlier, the governor united in himself and administrative, and civil functions. Satrap times Darius had only civil powers, the military authorities did not obey him. Satrapates had the right to minimize coins, were provided to the country's economic activity, tax collecting, the court peaked. IN peaceful time Satrapses were provided with a small personal guard. The army also obeyed exclusively military leaders independent of satrapses.

The implementation of state reforms was the cause of the creation of a large central administrator led by the Tsarist Office. The state administration led the capital of the Persian Power - the city of Suids. The major cities of that time Babylon, Etaubana, Memphis also had their office.

Satraps and officials were under non-weld control of the secret police. In ancient sources, it was called "ears and an eye of the king." The control and supervision of officials was trusted by Khazarapatu - the thousandrld. State correspondence was conducted on which almost all the peoples of Persia owned.

Culture of Persian Power

Ancient Persia left the descendants a large architectural heritage. The magnificent palace complexes in the sowes, Persepole and Pasargada produced a stunning impression on contemporaries. The royal estates were surrounded by gardens and parks. One of the monuments that have come down to this day is the tomb of Kira II. Many similar monuments arising hundreds of years have taken as the basis of the architecture of the Persian Tsar's tomb. The culture of the Persian Power contributed to the reconciliation of the king and strengthening the royal power among the conquered peoples.

The art of ancient Persia combined the artistic traditions of Iranian tribes, intertwined with elements of Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian cultures. Among those who came to the descendants, there are many decorations, bowls and VAZ, various cups decorated with sophisticated painting. Numerous seals with images of kings and heroes, as well as various animals and fantastic beings, occupy a special place in Nakhodka.

Economic Development of Persia Times Darius

Special situation in the Persian kingdom was occupied. Venels belonged to large land ownership on all conquered territories. The huge plots were made to the disposal of the "benefactors" of the king for personal merits in front of him. The owners of such lands had the right to control, transferring put on the inheritance to their descendants, and they also identified the exercise of the judiciary over the subjects. The land use system was widely used, in which the areas were called horses, onions, chariots, and so on. Such lands, the king distributed to his warriors, for this their owners had to carry the service in the army as riders, archers, chariots.

But still the huge sections of the land were in the immediate ownership of the king. They usually surrendered to rent. As a fee for them, agriculture and cattle breeding products were accepted.

In addition to lands, there were channels in the immediate royal authority. Governors of the tsarist property surrendered them for rent and collected for the use of water. For irrigation of fertile soils, a fee is charged, reaching 1/3 of the landowner harvest.

Persia labor resources

The work of slaves was used in all sectors of the economy. Their main part was usually prisoners of war. Slave slavery, when people sold themselves, did not receive distribution. Slaves had a number of privileges, for example, the right to have their own seals and participate in various transactions as full partners. The slave could redeem himself, paying certain lifts, and also to be the plaintiff, witness or defendant in litigation, of course, is not against its owners. The practice of attracting hired workers for certain money to work was distributed. The work of such workers received a special distribution in Babylonia, where they were digging channels, arranged roads and harvested crops from royal or temple fields.

Financial policy Daria

The main source of receipt of funds in the treasury was CAI. In 519, the king approved the main system of state taxes. Podachi were calculated for each satrapy, taking into account its territory and fertility of land. Persians as the people-conqueror did not pay a cash supply, but were not freed from the natural tax.

Various monetary units that continued to exist even after the unification of the country brought a lot of inconvenience, therefore in 517 BC. e. The king was introduced a new gold coin, called Dariq. The exchange agent was silver Sicl, worth 1/20 Damar and served in those times. On the reverse of both coins an image of Darius I was placed.

Persian Power Transport Mainships

The distribution of road network contributed to the development of trade between different satrapy. The royal road of the Persian Power began in Lydia, crossed small Asia and passed through Babylon, and from there - in the desira and Persepol. Markets laid by the Greeks were successfully used by Persians in trade and for the transfer of military force.

Also are also known for sea expeditions of ancient Persians, for example, the journey of Morleod Skilak to the Indian shores in 518 BC. e.

Darius I. Organization of the Persian State in Ahemedides

The lack of strong links between the individual parts of the Persian kingdom and the acute class struggle, which broke out at the end of the Cambiza reign and at the beginning of the reign of Darius I, demanded a number of reforms that were to internally strengthen the Persian state. According to the testimony of Greek historians, the Darius divided the entire Persian state to a number of areas (satrapy), imposed a certain tribute to each region, which was to be regularly entered into the royal treasury, and conducted a monetary reform, establishing a single Gold Coet for the whole state (Darik - 8,416 grams Gold). Then, Darius began broad road construction, combining large roads the most important economic, administrative and cultural centers of the country, organized a special service of communication, finally, completely reorganized the army and military affair. As a result of these reforms, Darius I and the subsequent activities of his successors, the Persian state received a new organization, largely built on the use of cultural achievements of individual peoples, which included the enormous Persian monarchy.

Although Darius reforms to some extent led to the centralization of the state with the help of a complex bureaucratic management system, Persia still largely retained the primitive nature of the ancient tribal union. The king, despite his uniform, in some respects depended on the influence of the highest representatives of the ancient family-tribal nobility. So, according to Herodotus, the Darius was elected the king at a meeting of the seven more nonest Persians who retained the right to enter the king without a report, and the king was obliged to take his wife himself from the family of one of these major aristocrats. In the text of the Behistunsk inscription Darius I lists the names of these acquaintired persons who helped him kill Gaumat and seize the royal power, and refers to the future Persian kings with the following appeal: "You will be with the time of the king, guarding the offspring of these husbands." Even Xerxes, according to Herodota, before starting a campaign against the Greeks, was forced to discuss this question at the meeting of representatives of the highest nobility.

But over time, the previous union of tribes has more and more acquired the forms of classical ancient designer despoty, whose individual elements may have been borrowed in Egypt or in Babylon. Obviously, immediately under the royal court consisted of senior officials, who, on behalf of the king, were provided with certain sectors of the central control: a treasury, a court and military business. At the king was also a personal royal secretary who prepared the royal decrees. The central government in the person of the king itself was actively interfered in various branches of local government. So, the king disassembled complaints of his subjects, for example, the priests of any temple, established submitted privileges, gave personal orders to build the temple or city walls. Each royal decree, equipped with royal seal, was considered a law that was not canceled. The entire control system wore a pronounced bureaucratic character and was carried out by a large number of officials. The king was demolished with officials with special messages. In the palace and in all office supplies, the most thorough emotions were used. All orders were entered into special diaries and protocols, which usually conducted in the Aramaist language, gradually become the official national language of the Persian state. Strengthening centralized management contributed to the presence of the post of the Supreme State Inspector (Ochao Tsar), which, on behalf of the king, performed the responsible functions of the supreme control, in particular in certain areas.

The strengthening of the central government contributed to the concentration of the judiciary in the hands of the king and special "royal judges." These "royal judges" or, as they called, "carriers of law" in their activities proceeded from the principle of unlimited autocracy of the king. Herodotus says that when Cambiz caused them to his meeting, they found "the law that allows the king of Persians to do everything that he wanted." The responsibilities of these "royal judges" included to give the king tips in all difficult controversial cases. These "tsarist judges" were appointed to the king for life, could be shifted from their position only due to the commission of a crime or accusation of bribery. The position of the "tsarist judge" sometimes was even inherited. "Tsarist judges" carried out judicial duties not only in the actual Persia, but also in some countries that included the Persian state, as can be seen from the Bible and from some Babylonian Persian documents found in Nippure.

In Persia, as in other countries of the Ancient Development, natural economy prevailed. Most products produced in rural communities were consumed on the spot. Only a small amount of redundant products came to the market and turned into goods. Accordingly, the ancient natural economy of goods and wages were often expressed in a certain amount of products. For example, hired workers in Persepole received wages with products: bread, oil, fish, etc., and there was a special term "step" to designate such a "product fee". In other later, the Persepolian documents mentioned "Baran and Wine", which were issued in the form of wages. However, with the development of trade, these primitive commodity equivalents have become more and more crowded in the first weight of metal money, and then a chained coin. In the VI century BC e. In Lydia, where a significant development has reached foreign trade, a chandled coin appears, which arose on the basis of the use of a significantly more ancient monetary system of Babylon. In Iran, the monetary system appeared at Kire, who first began to be minted in the scenes, in sardah and in Babylon, gold coins called "Dariq" (may be from the ancient Persian word "Dari" - gold). Money trade has received the greatest development in the western parts of the Persian state, where such ancient trade centers have long been flourished, such as Babylon. In the eastern regions, in particular in Central Asia, we used mainly weighing gold. However, the Persian coin penetrated here. Persian Dariks were found on Afrasiaba (near modern Samarkand) and in the ruins of old thermosis. A vivid idea of \u200b\u200bthe development of Persian trading in Darius I gives his inscription from the SUZ, which speaks of the construction of the palace. This lettering describes in detail the materials delivered from various countries to build the Tsarist Palace. So, the cedar tree was delivered from the Lebanese mountains, gold - from a saard and from Bactria, lazulike and carnelian - from Sogdiana, turquoise - from Khorezma, silver and bronze - from Egypt, ivory - from Ethiopia, from India and from the amorzia.

It is quite natural that for the further development of trade and to strengthen economic ties between the individual parts of the Persian state, it was necessary to establish a monetary system for the whole state. In order to establish such a single monetary system, the gift conducted its famous monetary reform. In the whole country, a single state gold coin was treated - Darik (8, 416 g.), 3 thousand Darikov made up the highest weight and coin unit - Persian talent. The gold coin chasing was declared the exclusive right of central government. From now on, the Persian king assumed the guarantee of the accuracy of the weight and purity of the alloy of a single national gold coin. Therefore, "Darius ordered to pay golden sand to possible more purity and some kind of gold coin." Local karks and rulers of individual areas and cities received the right to minimize the silver and copper coin. Percisual shekel, equal to 1/20 Damar (5,6 g. Silver). At the same time, the Darius established and the size of the filters that should be made in the royal treasury separate areas respectively with their economic development. Charging the filters was transferred to the deposit of trading houses or individual decoupers, which were enjoying huge funds. Therefore, grant and bumps were especially heavy burden on the population. The organization of the economic and financial management of the country, closely related to the growth of economic life and especially trade, was witty to Herodotus in the following words: "Persians call Darius Torgash for the fact that he has established a certain submit and accepted other similar measures."

Of great importance for the development of trade and coordination of the country's entire economic life of the country had a wide organization of road construction and communication service. Persians used a large number of ancient hatt and Assyrian roads, adapting them for shopping caravans, for the transport of postal and for the movement of troops. At the same time, a number of new roads were laid. Among the main roads that connected the most important trade and administrative centers, the largest road highway was of particular importance, called the "royal road". This road led from the Aegean coast of Malaya Asia to the center of Mesopotamia. She walked from Ephesus to Sarda and the Suids through Euphrates, Armenia, Assyria and then along the tiger. An equally important road was led from Babylon through the Zagre, past the Behistunskaya Rock, to the Bactrian and Indian borders. Finally, a special road crossed all small Asia from the Ice Bay to Sine, connecting the Aegean Sea area with conquer and the northern part of Front Asia. Greek historians talk about the excellent service of these exemplary Persian roads. They were divided into parasanga (5 kM), And at every 20th kilometer, a royal station was built with a hotel. For these roads, couriers with royal messages were racing. Greek historians, describing the organization of royal mail in Persia, tell that each station was spare horses and the messengers who immediately replaced the arrivals and, taking the royal message from them, rushed with him further. "There are cases," writes xenophon, "that even these connectors do not stop at night, and the daily messenger replaces the night, and with this order, as some say, the events make their way rather than cranes." It is possible that even then used firing alarms using fires. At the boundaries of the areas and deserts, as well as the strengthening through large rivers, the fortifications were built and garrisons were placed, which indicates the military significance of these roads.

To preserve the state unity of the extensive Persian Empire, to protect very stretched borders and to suppress the uprising inside the country, the organization of troops and all military affairs in general was necessary. In peacetime, permanent army consisted of merchants of Persians and Middes, which constituted the main garrisons. The core of this permanent army was the Tsarist Guard, which consisted of aristocratic riders and 10 thousand "immortal" infantrymen. Personal protection of the Persian Tsar consisted of 10 thousand soldiers. During the war, the king gathered a huge militia from around the state, and the individual areas had to be set up a certain number of soldiers. The reorganization of the army and the whole military business, begun by Got, contributed to the growth of the military power of the Persian state. Greek historian Xenophon in a somewhat idealized form draws a high degree of military organization in ancient Persia. Judging by his story, the Persian king himself established the size of the troops in each satrapy, the number of riders, shooters, prashas and Schlotnikov, as well as the number of garrisons in separate fortresses. The Persian king annually produced visual inspections, in particular those that were located around the royal residence. In more distant areas, these military vessels were made by special royal officials specially appointed for this purpose. Special attention has been paid to the organization of military affairs. For a good content of the troops, the satrapy was raised, rewards in the form of valuable gifts, and for the poor content of the troops they died from posts and were severely punished. Of great importance for the centralization of military affairs and mainly the military department had the creation of large military districts that united several.

In order to internally strengthen the Persian state, it was necessary to organize a more or less slender system of local government. More Cyrus formed large areas from conquered countries, at the head of which special rulers were delivered, who received the name of satrapses from the Greeks (from the Persian "Khsatrapan" - the countries of the country). These satrapies were a kind of tsar governors who had to focus in their hands all the threads of their area management. They were obliged to maintain order in the area and suppress the uprising in it. Satrapses headed the local court, possessing both criminal and civil jurisdiction. They commanded the troops of the region, made a military supply and even had the right to keep the personal guard. So, for example, Oroets, Satrap Lydia, had a personal guard, consisting of a thousand bodyguards. In the hands of the satrapy were, then focused and financial and applied functions. Satrapses were obliged to collect petas with the subjects subject to them, seek new taxes and all these revenues to transfer to the royal treasury. Satraps were supposed to observe the economic life of the areas, in particular for the development of agriculture, for which the Persians watched, as one of the most important types of farms. Finally, the satrapy had the right to prescribe and disperse officials within their areas and control their activities. Thus, satrapy, having a huge authority, often turned into almost independent king and even had their own yard. Without the ability to completely subjugate to its control, all parts of the enormous state, the Persian kings quite consciously left the whole range of prerogatives to local dynasties. So, for example, the kings of Kilicia ruled in their kingdom as satrapses to the end of V c. BC e. In Malaya Asia, in Syria, in Palestine and Palestine, in Central Asia and the distant oriental outskirts, as well as at the borders of India, local princes retained power, managing its own regions on behalf of the Persian King Kings. This excessive independence of local rulers or satrapses often led to the fact that they rebelled against the Persian king. These uprisings constantly demanded the intervention of the Persian kings. So, for example, Darius was forced to oppose the Oroet, Satrapa Lydia, and Aryand, Satrapa Egypt, and strictly shove them for their excessive independence, which was sometimes expressed in the disobedience of the Persian king and even in the secret murder of the royal race.

The Persian Kingdom with Darius I was divided into 23-24 satraps, which are listed in Behistunskaya, Nakshi-Rustamsk and Suez inscriptions. List of satrapy with the transfer of the filings that they paid the Persian king leads both Herodotes. However, these lists are not always, by the way, exactly not coinciding with each other, have strictly administrative importance. Despite the attempts of the Persian kings, enter the large independence of satrapses into some frames, sometimes reaching full of arbitrariness, and the satrapy still retained many peculiar local traits. In some satrapy, local law (Babylon, Egypt, Jews), local measures and weight systems, administrative division (division of Egypt to Nomes), the eligger and privileges of temples and priesthood are preserved. In individual countries, they were maintained as official and local languages, along with which the Aramaic language was increasingly acquired, which became the official "office of the Persian state". However, as I. I. V. Stalin, Kira's empire did not only have had no, but could not have "one for the empire and understandable for all members of the Empire of the Language." Therefore, as it is clearly seen from the preserved documents, in each country its local language remained firmly. So, in Egypt, they wrote and spoke in ancient Egyptian language, in Babylonia - on Babylonian, in Elame - on Elam, etc. The basis of the Persian state was the Western-Iranian tribes, united in administrative and in militarily in one strong and cohesive state under The power of the king. In this state, Persians occupied a privileged position as the ruling nation. Persians were exempted from all taxes, so that all the entrances fell on the peoples conquered by Persians. The Persian kings in their inscriptions have always emphasized "merits and dignity", as well as the dominant position of Persians in the state. In his grave inscription Darius I wrote: "If you think:" As the many countries, subject to the king give, ", look at the images that support the throne; Then you know and you will know, (as) the spear of the Persian husband penetrated; Then you will know, (that) the Persian husband is far from Persia hit the enemy. " Persians united a single language and a single religion, in particular the cult of the Supreme God of Ahuramazda. With the help of priestly propaganda, the people suggested that the Persian king was appointed by the ruler of the country by the Supreme God by Ahuramazdoy himself and that therefore all the Persians should bring an oath to serve her king. In Persian inscriptions, it is constantly indicated that the king owns the Persian kingdom by the will of Ahuramazda. So, for example, Darius I wrote: "By the will of Ahuramazda, these provinces followed my laws, (all) that I ordered them, they performed. Ahuramazda gave me this kingdom. Ahuramazd helped me so that I mastered this kingdom. By the will of Ahuramazda, I own this kingdom. " In the palace inscription in Persepole Darius I prays for his country and for his people; He is proud of its origin from the Persian royal order. As can be seen from Persian inscriptions, the Persian king solemnly promised to reflect any attack on his country and every attempt to change its orders. Thus, religious ideology justified the external and internal policies of the kings from the Ahemenide dynasty, the purpose of which was the desire to strengthen the ruling position of the slave-owned aristocracy.

However, as Persia gradually began to turn into a huge power, striving for domination within the world famous then, new forms of ideology began to appear, designed to substantiate the claim of the Persian kings to world domination. The Persian king was called the "king of countries" or "king kings." Moreover, he was called the "Lord of all people from sunrise to sunset." Ancient-perceidal religion was used to strengthen the power of the king, a lot of people perceived from the religious views of the pearnts who were part of the Persian state, in particular the peoples of Central Asia. According to the political and religious theory, established in the kingdom of Ahemenides, the Supreme God of the Persian Akhuramazd, who was considered the creator of the sky and the Earth, made the Persian king "the ruler of all this extensive land, his only lord of many", "above the mountains and plains on the same side of the sea , on that and this side of the desert. " On the walls of the Grand Persepolsk Palace of the Persian kings, long strings of dannikov carrying the most diverse tribute and the rich gifts to the Persian king from all over the world will be depicted. On the gold and on silver signs, Darius I reported concisely, but expressively about the huge sizes of his state: "Darius, the Great Tsar, King of Kings, King of countries, the son of Histspa, AHEMENID. King Darius says: "This is the kingdom that I own from Scythia, which is behind Sogdiana, to a kush (i.e. Ethiopia. - V. A.), from India to Sard, gave me Ahuramazda, the greatest of the gods. Yes, protects the ahuramazd me and my house. "