What do we know about the Persian Empire? For most of the past 2,500 years, we've heard about it from the ancient Greek perspective: a decadent civilization run by despots, the villains who lost the Battle of Marathon and supplied the fodder for bad guys in literature and film. But is this image really accurate? Professor Lee's The Persian Empire captures the people, the strength, the rise, and the downfall of this great empire, revealing the complexity behind centuries of a previously one-sided history. Take this opportunity to complete your understanding of the ancient world and discover the humanity of the ancient Persians.

Course no. 3117. The length of each lecture is: ca. 30 min. The entire program consists of 24 lectures. Accompanying PDF contains course workbook in CD-ROM format.

Rethinking the Persian Empire -- Questioning the sources -- The world before Cyrus -- Cyrus and Cambyses: founders of the empire -- Darius I: creator of the Imperial system -- Persian capitals and royal palaces -- The great king: images and realities -- Royal roads and provinces -- East of Persepolis -- Challenges in the West, 513-494 B.C. -- Across the Bitter Sea, 493-490 B.C. -- Xerxes becomes king -- Xerxes's War, 480-479 B.C. -- Cultures in contact -- Achaemenid religion -- From expansion to stability, 479-405 B.C. -- The war of two brothers -- Persian Gold -- City and countryside -- Women in the Persian Empire -- Artaxerxes II: the longest-ruling king -- Persia and Macedon, 339-333 B.C. -- The end of an empire, 333-323 B.C. -- Legacies of the Persian Empire.