A history of ancient Persia : the Achaemenid empire / Maria Brosius.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brosius, Maria, author.

Series:

Blackwell history of the ancient world

Blackwell History of the Ancient World

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Achaemenid dynasty, 559-330 B.C.

Achaemenid dynasty.

Iran--History--To 640.

Iran.

History.

Iran--Civilization--To 640.

Civilization.

Genre:

History.

Physical Description:

xxx, 250 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm.

Other Title:

Achaemenid empire

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2021.

Summary:

A History of Ancient Persia: The Achaemenid Empire considers archaeological and written sources to provide an expansive, source-based introduction to the diverse and culturally rich world of ancient Achaemenid Persia. Assuming no prior background, this accessible textbook follows the dynastic line from the establishment and expansion of the empire under the early Achaemenid kings to its collapse in 330 BCE. The text integrates the latest research, key primary sources, and archaeological data to offer readers deep insights into the empire, its kings, and its people. --

Chronologically organized chapters contain written, archaeological, and visual sources that highlight key learning points, stimulate discussion, and encourage readers to evaluate specific pieces of evidence. Throughout the text, author Maria Brosius emphasizes the necessity to critically assess Greek sources-highlighting how their narrative of Achaemenid political history often depicted stereotypical images of the Persians rather than historical reality. Topics include the establishment of empire under Cyrus the Great, Greek-Persian relations, the creation of a Persian ruling class, the bureaucracy and operation of the empire, Persian diplomacy and foreign policy, and the reign of Darius III. This innovative textbook: --

Offers a unique approach to Achaemenid history, considering both archaeological and literary sources --

Places primary Persian and Near Eastern sources in their cultural, political, and historical context --

Examines material rarely covered in non-specialist texts, such as royal inscriptions, Aramaic documents, and recent archaeological finds --

Features a comprehensive introduction to Achaemenid geography, Greek historiography, and modern scholarship on the Persian War --Book Jacket.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: 2.1. The Persians

2.1.1. Parsua and Parsumash

2.1.2. Kurash of Parsumash

2.2. The Indigenous Population of the Iranian Plateau: The Elamites

2.3. The Neighbours in the North: The Medes

2.3.1. Media in Herodotus

2.3.2. Near Eastern Sources on the Medes

3.1. Cyrus II and Media

3.1.1. A Folktale or a Tool for Legitimacy?

3.2. The Conquest of the Lydian Kingdom

3.3. Cyrus and the Ionian Greeks

3.4. The First Royal City of the Persians: Pasargadae

3.5. The Conquest of Babylon

3.5.1. A Peaceful Conquest?

3.5.2. Political Astuteness

3.6. The Scythian Campaign

3.7. Cyrus II, Conqueror and Empire-Builder

4.1. The Succession of Cambyses II

4.2. The Power of Propaganda

4.2.1. The Demotic Papyrus

4.3. Cambyses's Depiction in Herodotus

4.4. The Apis Bull

4.4.1. The Apis Bull and the Death of Cambyses

4.4.2. The Killing of His Sister-Wife

4.4.3. Fratricide

5.1. The Succession of Darius I

5.1.1. Herodotus's Version of Events

5.1.2. Darius's Version: The Inscription of Bisitun

5.2. The Death of Bardiya

5.2.1. Herodotus and the Bisitun Inscription: A Comparison

5.2.2. A Murder Mystery

5.2.3. Darius the Achaemenid

5.2.4. Teispes

5.2.5. The Royal Line of Kings

5.2.6. Dynastic Marriages

5.3. The Consolidation of Empire

5.3.1. Royal Cities

5.3.1.1. Pasargadae

5.3.1.2. Susa

5.3.2. Parsa - City of the Persians

5.4. Foreign Policy

5.4.1. The Scythian Campaign

5.4.2. The Athenian-Persian Alliance of 508/7

5.4.3. The Ionian Revolt

5.4.4. The Sequence of Events

5.4.5. Problems in the Historical Account

5.4.6. The Punitive Campaign of 490

6.1. Achaemenid Kingship

6.1.1. The Power of Royal Imagery

6.2. Royal Ideology

6.3. Persian Religion

6.3.1. Funerary Customs

6.4. Persepolis: The Microcosm of Empire

6.4.1. The Royal Court

6.4.2. Gift-Giving

6.4.3. Rhyta

6.4.4. The Women of the Court

6.4.5. The King's Friends and Benefactors

6.4.6. Courtiers

6.4.7. Refugees and Foreigners

7.1. The Satraps

7.1.1. The Satrapies

7.1.2. The Great Satrapy of Bactria

7.1.3. The Status of the Caucasus Region and Thrace

7.2. Administering the Empire

7.2.1. Royal Correspondence

7.2.2. Taxes and Tribute

7.2.3. The Administration of Persepolis

7.2.4. Royal Roads

8.1. The Reign of Xerxes

8.1.1. Xerxes's Succession

8.1.2. Quashing Rebellions in Egypt and Babylonia

8.2. The War in Greece

8.2.1. The State of Play in Greece

8.2.2. The Persian Army on the March

8.2.3. Thermopylae and Artemisium

8.2.4. The Fall of Athens and the Battle of Salamis

8.2.5. Attempts at Diplomacy

8.2.6. The Battle of Plataea

8.2.7. Xerxes in Asia Minor

8.2.8. The Story of Xerxes and the Wife of Masistes

8.2.9. ...And a Story Retold

8.2.10. The Beginning of the Myth

8.2.11. Medising

8.2.12. Perserie

8.2.13. After the War

8.3. Artaxerxes I

8.3.1. The Death of Xerxes I and the Succession of Artaxerxes I

8.3.2. Revolts in Bactria and Egypt

8.3.3. Rebellion in Egypt 464-454

8.3.4. The Revolt of Megabyxus

8.3.5. The Peace of Callias

8.3.6. Judaea Under Artaxerxes I

8.3.7. Continuity in Persepolis

8.4. Succession Trouble in 424

8.4.1. Rebellions in the Empire

8.4.2. The Royal Building Programme Continued

8.4.3. Persia Re-enters Greek Politics

8.4.4. The Bilateral Treaty of 411

8.5. Artaxerxes II

8.5.1. The War of the Brothers

8.5.2. Persian Affairs in Asia Minor

8.5.3. Evagoras of Salamis

8.5.4. Revolt in Egypt 404/400-343/2

8.6. The Winds of Change

8.6.1. City-Rulers and Local Dynasts of the Western Empire

8.6.2. The Hecatomnids

8.6.3. Perikle of Limyra

8.6.4. The Political Level

8.6.4.1. The kings of Sidon

8.6.5. Stele of the King of Byblos/Gubal

8.6.6. Rebellions in Western Asia Minor 366-359/8

8.6.7. Datames

8.6.8. Ariobarzanes

8.6.9. Orontes

8.6.10. The Death of Artaxerxes II

9.1. The Succession of Artaxerxes III

9.2. Egypt

9.3. Athenian-Persian Relations 349-342

9.4. The Death of Artaxerxes III and the Reign of Artaxerxes IV

10.1. The Succession of Darius III

10.1.1. Battling Negative Propaganda

10.2. External Threat

10.2.1. The Macedonian Invasion

10.2.2. Granicus

10.2.3. Issus

10.2.4. Gaugamela

10.2.5. The Royal Cities

10.2.6. The Death of Darius III

10.3. In the Footsteps of the Persian Kings?.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Brosius, Maria, A history of ancient Persia.

ISBN:

9781444350920

1444350927

OCLC:

1158503839