MMW 12 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Pahlavi Scripts, Achaemenid Empire, Papak
Document Summary
Major pre-islamic persian dynasties: achaemenid empire (c. 550-330 bc)- founded by cyrus the great (conquered the. Syrian empire and let the jews go back to jerusalem), stretched from greece to indus. Valley: seleucid empire (312-63 bc): hellenistic empire founded by one of alexander the. Great"s soldiers: parthian empire (247bc-224ad): founded by central asian nomads who invade and overthrow the seleucids, sassanian empire (224-641ad): claim the throne as successors of achaemenids. Ardashir: founder of the sassanid empire: son or grandson of sasan, a descendant of achaemenid king and zoroastrian priest (mobed [high priest , similar to bishop in christianity]), and/or son/son-in-law of. Babag/ papak, a parthian governor ardashir captures ardavan, ca. 1330 36: babag and his sons, shapur and ardashir overthrow the parthian-allied king of. Persis/pars/fars: babag initially appoints shapur as heir, but ardashir supplants him, ardashir unites nobles and overthrows parthian shah ardavan.