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The Sassanid Persian Empire
Abigail, Cayla, Ellen, Kimberlee, Misha, and Regan
Origins of The Sassanid Persian Empire
● It is the fourth Iranian Dynasty, and the second Persian
Empire.
● In 224 Ardashir I defeated Artabanus IV, the last Arsacid king,
and started expanding his own small territory into neighboring
provinces, eventually choking out the Parthian Empire and
establishing the Sassanid Empire.
● He was crowned in 226 as the sole ruler of Persia, and he took the
title Shahanshah, or "King of Kings. (This is an allusion to the
first Persian Empire)
Origins of The Sassanid Persian Empire
● Ardashir I placed the first capital south of
Persis, and it was named Ardashir-Khwarrah,
which meant The Glory of Ardashır.
● The city was circular and was easily defendable
because of the high mountains around it and
narrow passages were the only access. It was
also surrounded by a large circular wall. This
and parts of a palace are still standing today.
Government Structure
● Emperors held the title Shahanshah (King of Kings)
● Monarchy typically heredity, if no direct heir was available, nobles and
prelates chose a member of the royal families
● Coins would have image of ruler on them
● Territories were ruled by Shahrdar. Members of Royal Family, directly
answered to Shahanshah.
Government continued
• Priests had very close relations with kings
•High Priest holds position of power in the courts
•Shahansha guarded the sacred fire, symbolizing national religion
•Below the king, the next power was the bureaucracy
•Bureaucracy dealt with many government affairs
•Head of bureaucracy was vuzorg farmadar
•Nobility made up of Partian clans, noble families, and Persian Aristocrat
families
Legal System
•Courts of justice were found at all levels
•Found in every rural area, city, and district
•lawsuits tried by the high priest or the judicial process or by ordeal(war)
•complaints and pleas recorde in a document and sealed and signed by both
parties
•After analyzing parties, the judge fixed the time of the trial
•both parties had right to appeal
•If appealed to a junior judge, case will be taken to a higher court
Legal system continued
•Judge handed copy of trial minutes and decision to archivist
•If accused is acquitted, receives a deed of acquittal
•Any capital offense put into judicial records
•On some cases of obstruction, the party of obstructors payed sum of money
or land
• If there is a harsh verdict, the accused good deed would be set against
his/her demerits
•If demerits are outweighed, accused would not be punished
Religious Beliefs
●
The major religion of The Sassanid Persian Empire was Zoroastrianism.
● Zoroastrianism was edited by the Sassanid clery, which caused religious
uneasiness among other followers of the faith
● Zoroastrian priests were very powerful within the government
● Buddhism, Christianity, and Judaism also existed within the empire, and
followers were free to practice their beliefs (but were not always treated
equal)
● Persian Christians were accused (falsely) of sympathizing with the Roman
enemy, but the two versions of Christianity had many differences.
Major Cities
Ctesiphon
● Ctesiphon was the later capital of the Sassanid Persian Empire.
● Was built on the site where an older town, known as Opis, once stood.
● Little is known about what life was like inside the city.
○ All writings written by contemporaries are nowhere to be found.
● Located about twenty miles away from the Tigris River.
Derbent (present day)
● City built between two parallel walls, also known as a Citadel.
● Walls created a barrier from the seashore and mountains.
● Northern lines for Sassanid Persian Empire.
Economy
❏ The Sassanids dominated international trade in the Indian
Ocean, Central Asia, and South Russia. Competition for
trade with the Byzantines was sometimes intense.
❏ Settlements in Oman and Yemen were an important part of
trade with India. Although one the Sassanids main trade
was silk with China.
❏ Good roads and bridges, well patrolled, enabled state post
and merchant caravans to link Ctesiphon with all provinces;
and harbors were built in the Persian Gulf to quicken trade
with India
❏ Main exports are silk, woolen and golden textile, carpets
and rugs, skin, leather, and pearls from the Persian Gulf.
Economy (continued)
❏ Khosrau I further extended the already vast trade network.
The Sassanid state now tended toward monopolistic control
of trade, with luxury goods assuming a far greater role in
the trade than heretofore, and the great activity in building
of ports, caravanserais, bridges, and the like was linked to
trade and urbanization.
❏
The Sassanids used special labels on goods that showed the
quality of certain goods. Also used to promote their
company.
Spread of the Empire
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second emperor Shapur I extended empire into what is
now Pakistan & northwestern India
this spread cultural & political practices to Kushan
territories but the Kushans did not accept their religious
practices as their own
things like chess, backgammon, & literature made its
way into Kushan life, much of which was later used in
the Islamic world
Persian methods of warfare spread to the Roman
Empire as well as some ceremonial & political practices
after the fall of the empire, Zoroastrians were persecuted
& chose to emigrate more into India where they were
granted religious freedom & their descendants known as
Parsis continued to practice & spread Zoroastrianism &
still do to this day
Reasons for Collapse
● Khosrow II overtaxed the people and expanded too much which caused
the empire to weaken significantly.
● After Khosrow II was assassinated, 12 different kings took power in
14 years
● The persians didn’t have enough time to recover before Arabs started
attacking all over the empire.
● Lasted until 651 CE, when it was overthrown by the Arab Caliphate
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Sizgorich, Tom. "Ctesiphon." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
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"Ardashir I." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
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