NMC238H1

The Persian Empire: Superpower of the Ancient World

The Achaemenid Persian Empire (550-323 BCE) ruled communities stretching from Egypt and Greece to Central Asia and the Indus River. Persian rule transformed the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East: the Persians conquered the great civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, they were the first rivals of the Greek world, and they impacted the formation of Judaism. This course will survey the political, cultural, religious, social, and economic history of the Persian Empire. Students will read primary written sources in translation such as Greek historical texts, Egyptian papyri, and cuneiform tablets. Students will also learn about the archaeology of the Persian heartland in Iran, as well as the Persian impact in places like Turkey, Israel, and Afghanistan.