Chapter 5 Lesson 3: Greece and Persia

• Persia built a powerful empire in Southwest Asia at the same time that Athens experienced political changes.

• Persia was located in what we know today as south western Iran

• During the 540s BCE Persian troops conquered neighboring lands.

• They claimed Mesopotamia, Syria, Judah, and the city states in the Anatolia area.

• King Cyrus was able to hold and grow his empire by treating conquered people fairly. Conquered people were able to keep their own

  • language

  • religion

  • and laws

  • Jews were allowed to return to Judah

​After Cyrus

• Persian Rulers expanded the Empire

• Took Egypt, Western India, and Lands north east of Greece

• Empire stretched 3,000 miles ( the size of the U. S)

• to link this large territory the Persians improved the large network of roads that the Assyrians

• The most important route was the Royal Road which was over 1500 miles long

• Ran from Persia to Anatolia.

• Travelers could get from Persia to Anatolia in 7 days and any other route took 3 months

• Using this route allowed travelers to be able to obtain ( get ) food, water, and fresh horses by using the different stations along the route