The Persian Empire
This ruler founded the Persian Empire and was known for incorporating conquered peoples using tolerant but practical policies.
Cyrus the Great
This modern country contains the ruins of Persepolis
Iran
This term describes a province or regional administrative area within the Persian Empire.
Satrapy
This large audience hall contained 36 columns and reliefs depicting delegations from across the empire
Apadana
A text carved, engraved or written onto a durable surface such as stone is known by this term
an inscription
Explain why an archaeologist must record the precise location and layer in which an artefact is discovered.
preserving the artefact’s archaeological context
At approximately this date, the Persian Empire reached its greatest extent and contained an estimated 50 million people
500 BCE
Persepolis was located approximately 20 miles south of this earlier Persian capital established by Cyrus the Great
Parsagarde
This was the title given to the governor appointed to administer a Persian province
Satrap
This building was also known as the Throne Hall and was a massive square structure
Hall of 100 Columns
A sculpture that projects from a flat background, such as those on the Apadana stairways, is known by this term
a relief
A continuous sequence of events arranged in the order in which they occurred
chronology
This Persian ruler introduced governing institutions, reformed taxation and established systems that helped the empire endure
Darius I
The name of the most prominant trade route
The royal road
Darius introduced this standardised gold coin to facilitate trade across the empire.
Daric
On the Apadana stairways, 23 groups representing the peoples of the empire are shown performing this action
bringing gifts or tribute to the king
A source produced during the period being investigated is classified in this way
primary source
The conditions and circumstances surrounding an event, individual, site or source.
historical context
These three Persian rulers were responsible for founding and completing much of Persepolis.
Darius I, Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I
Explain one way the geography and climate of the Persian Empire created difficulties for travel and government
the empire’s great distances, mountain ranges, deserts and seasonal weather, which could slow communication, trade and military movement
Explain why Persian royal inscriptions are valuable but limited sources for investigating Darius
they provide contemporary Persian evidence about Darius’s actions, titles, beliefs and image of kingship, but were also designed to legitimise and glorify him, so they may omit failures and opposition?
Royal reliefs often show the king defeating lions, bulls or imaginary creatures. This communicates this quality of Persian kingship
the king’s strength, courage and ability to defeat disorder or evil
This concept refers to the usefulness of a source for answering a particular historical question
value of a source
The presence of palaces and private royal rooms suggests that Persepolis performed this function.
royal residence
What were the names of the capital cities of the Persian Empire?
Ecbatana, Susa, Babylon, Pasargadae, Persepolis
The Treasury, tablets, seals and economic records support the interpretation that Persepolis performed this function.
administrative and economic centre
Identify two ways Persian rulers encouraged conquered peoples to accept their authority
Explain how the Apadana reliefs communicated both the diversity and unity of the Persian Empire.
depiction of different peoples in distinctive clothing carrying characteristic gifts while participating in an orderly procession towards the same Persian king
This presents a diverse empire unified under royal authority.
A preference or prejudice that influences how people or events are represented
bias
Using at least three features of Persepolis, explain what the site reveals about the role and image of the Persian king.
Persepolis presents the Persian king as the divinely favoured centre of a diverse and orderly empire. The Apadana reliefs show delegations from 23 subject peoples approaching the king with gifts, communicating his authority over a vast territory. Tripylon reliefs depict representatives of the empire physically supporting the king, symbolising that imperial unity depended upon royal leadership. Images of the king defeating lions and monsters portray him as a strong ruler capable of overcoming chaos and protecting order. The Treasury, monumental palaces and imported luxury materials also demonstrate his enormous wealth and control of imperial resources. Together, these features represent the king as ruler, administrator, military protector and guarantor of harmony throughout the empire.