Persia+2011+Danielle+Starz

=**Persia**=

Religion
Under the Sassanid Empire, Zoroastrianism was declared the official religion of Persia, and other faiths were persecuted, sometimes intensely. Moreover, the Sassanians reinstituted battle with the Romans, even capturing the Roman emperor [|Valerian] in 260. However, initial victories against Rome would eventually be disastrous for the Sassanians, as invaders from the north (known as the "White [|Huns]") and continued fighting with the Byzantines in the west led to a breakdown of Sassanian authority. Civil war broke out by the seventh century. Finally, in 642, the [|Muslims] conquered the Sassanians, the shah was executed, and the Persian Empire was no more.

Despite its eventual conquest by the Muslims, the Persian Empire continued to live on in the rich cultural traditions of its population. Indeed, the magnificent buildings, gardens, handicrafts, and artistic traditions of the Persians continued to inspire their Muslim conquerors for many centuries. Moreover, the ancient glories of their independent empires were held dear in the hearts of Persians. People throughout the world still marvel at the mention of the Persian Empire, for it evokes images of a mighty, wealthy, and vast ancient land.


 * Zoroastrianism**

One of the central developments of the Persian Empire was the religion of Zoroastrianism. According to tradition, the sixth-century-BC founder of the religion, [|Zoroaster], received a vision from Ahura Mazda, the supreme being and creator, who appointed him to preach the truth. Zoroaster's monotheistic teachings about Ahura Mazda represented a significant departure from traditional, polytheistic beliefs in the region. Zoroastrianism taught that in the struggle between good and evil, humans chose which path to follow and were rewarded or punished accordingly.

Over the course of the Persian Empire, Zoroastrianism evolved and became increasingly important. From the time of Xerxes, the Persian rulers were almost certainly Zoroastrian, until Alexander. Zoroastrianism endured until the [|Muslim] conquest of the region in the seventh century [|AD], after which it diminished in influence. Still, some practitioners of Zoroastrianism remain today, and many scholars believe that it influenced the development of Judaism and early Christianit http://ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/574840?terms=Zoroastrianism



**Technology**
The Persian kings, in order to communicate more effectively with their [|satraps] (governors) and to facilitate easier travel, commissioned the building of roads within Persia. While there were many "royal roads," the most important and famous ran more than 1,500 miles from the Persian capital of Susa to the key city of Sardis and on to the port of Smyrna, located on the [|Aegean Sea]. Earlier versions of the road were already in existence by 1200 [|B.C.], yet the final route was constructed by Persian kings [|Cyrus II] and [|Darius I] between 550 and 486 B.C. The Greek historian [|Herodotus] mentions in his //History// that Persian messengers were the fastest couriers in the world, in great part thanks to the excellence of those roads. When he invaded and defeated the [|Persian Empire], Macedonian king Alexander the Great followed the royal road into the heart of the empire.

Illustration of an early-thirteenth-century Persia n astrolabe. The astrolabe was developed by ancient Greek astronomers in the second or first century BCE for measuring the latitude of celestial objects.