Sasanian empire the reader wiki, reader view of wikipedia. Roman emperor theodosius i and shapur iii of persia agree to formally divide armenia between the eastern roman byzantine empire and the sasanian empire. The aswaran singular aswar, also spelled asbaran, was a military force that formed the backbone of the army of the sasanian empire. Ardashir aimed at the revival of the persian empire, and to further this aim, he reformed the military by forming a standing army which was under his personal command and whose officers were separate from satraps, local princes and nobility. The sasanians traditionally were seen by many as the last ancient or preislamic empire of the middle east. The birth of the army dates back to the rise of ardashir i r. The four hundred year sasanian epoch spans all three eras. The sasanian empire and vast majority of its citizens were of zoroastrian background under the keen control of vigilant zoroastrian clergy known as magi. The decentralised dynastic system of the sasanian empire, whose backbone was a sasanianparthian alliance, contained the seeds of its own destruction. In this highly readable history, touraj daryaee fills a significant gap in our knowledge of world history. Its strength had been undermined, however, by repeated roman invasions, and the empire became once more divided, this time between vologeses vi or v, who seems to have ruled at ctesiphon, on the left bank of the middle tigris in what is now.
Bawi was a sasanian military officer from the ispahbudhan family who was involved in the anastasian war and the iberian war between the sasanian and byzantine empire. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The parthian and later sassanid empires had a sizable military, were technologically advanced for the. Because controlling the persian gulf was an economic necessity, the sasanian navy worked to keep it safe from piracy, prevent roman encroachment, and keep the arab tribes. Feb 17, 2007 the sasanian empire now modern iran and many other nearby areas has been on my list for quite some time.
A list of rulers of the sasanian empire in chronological order from the third to the seventh centuries a. According to a legend, the vexilloid of the sasanian empire was the derafsh kaviani. Conflicting accounts shroud the details of the fall of the parthian empire and subsequent rise of the sasanian empire in mystery. The overthrow of the arsacid royal house in 224 ce and the establishment of the sasanian dynasty was the outcome of the simultaneous decline of the parthian state brought about by chronic civil strife, a devastating epidemic of smallpox, repeated wars with roman forces who sacked ctesiphon in 165 and 198, and the gradual ascendancy of a persian family with. Their artistic talent and cultural creativity influenced their neighbors, and their history remained a reference point for the later islamic. Its greatest leader was shapur ii of persia, who defeated the romans at the battle of. The book takes the form of a narrative, which situates sasanian iran as a continental power between rome and the world of the steppe nomad. Persia rules one half of armenia as the marzpanate, that is with marzpan viceroys. The shahanshahs of the sasanian empire middle persian.
The sasanians were based in firuzabad and istakhr, not far from ancient persepolis. Until then, persis had been a vassal of the parthian empire, but papaks son ardasir i, who succeeded his father, defeated the last parthian in 226. What are the best books on history of sassanid empire and. Reading between the lines, i detect in many roman sources a great fear of sasanian espionage, propaganda, and diplomacy. Sasanian silverware, showing a combat between two heavy armored noble horsemen. The sasanian navy was the naval force of the sasanian empire. In fact, many scholars consider the sasanian empire to be the last great empire of the ancient near east because once it had been. It is considered by the iranian people to be a highlight of their civilization, for after the fall of the achaemenid empire at the hands of.
The persian empire in the sasanian era was interrupted by the arab conquest of persia in 651 ad, establishing the even larger islamic caliphate, and later by the mongol invasion. The political history the individual kings, and the wars with rome and byzantium are covered in a total of only 38 pages. The sasanian army was the primary military body of the sasanian armed forces, serving alongside the sasanian navy. The decentralised dynastic system of the sasanian empire, whose backbone was a sasanian parthian alliance, contained the seeds of its own destruction. The sasanian era by vesta sarkhosh curtis, sarah stewart. The sasanian empire, the last of the great ancient persian states, lasted from 220 ce to 642 ce, and was characterised by a string zoroastrian church and by wars with the romans and byzantines.
Sasanian army reforms and caucasian politics in the early sixth century. The sasanian navy was an important constituent of the sasanian military from the time that ardashir i conquered the arab side of the persian gulf. The sassanid empire, also known as the sasanian empire, sassanid dynasty, sasanian dynasty, or persian empire were an iranian dynasty that stretched from mesopotamia to the indus river valley as of 363 ad. The author does justice to the military of the sassanian empire and paints a highly favorable and satisfactory image of that formidable fighting force. The empire lasted until 651 ce when it was overthrown by the arab caliphate. Army of empire fills this void in our historical understanding admirably and comprehensively. The sasanian empire is the name used for the fourth iranian dynasty and the second persian empire 224 651 ce. Mar 07, 2020 the early sasanian state was more than a match for rome, and several roman armies were destroyed in the wars provoked by the first two sasanian kings, and in the 7 th century nearly all the roman empire was conquered by iran. How did the parthian and sassanid empire manage to be. Details persias growing military and economic power in the late antique world. Territorial expansion of the sasanian empire illustration.
The main religion of ancient persia was the native zoroastrianism, but after the seventh century, it was slowly replaced by islam. Sasanian heavy cavalry and standard bearer sasanian heavy cavalry the sasanians, or sasanids 224641 ce were responsible for creating an important empire that included the plateau of iran, parts of central africa, arabia, and mesopotamia. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the sasanian era. The sasanian era is one of the most influential periods in irans history. Melvyn bragg and guests discuss the sassanian empire. Sasanian navy military wiki fandom powered by wikia. Decline and fall of the sasanian empire has already been praised as one of the most intellectually exciting books about ancient persia to have been published for years. Not enough to really get a firm understanding of this area, its people, or its time. I have read about the persian empire in roundabout ways, mostly associated with other readings on the roman or byzantine empire. The sasanianparthian confederacy and the arab conquest of iran international library of iranian studies reprint edition. Ancient origins articles related to sasanian empire in the sections of history, archaeology, human origins, unexplained, artifacts, ancient places and myths and legends. He is also known as aspebedes, which is a corruption of the title spahbed. The sassanid empire or sassanian dynasty is the name used for the persian dynasty which lasted from 224 to 651 ad the sassanid empire, which succeeded the parthian empire, was recognized as one of the two great powers in western asia, alongside the roman empire and later the byzantine empire, for more than 400 years.
The history of any empire or an era can usually be classified into various parts 1. The sasanian empire 3rd7th centuries was one of the largest empires of antiquity, stretching from mesopotamia to modern pakistan and from central asia to the arabian peninsula. He examines the sasanians complex and colourful narrative and demonstrates their unique significance, not only for the development of iranian. The rise and fall of an empire international library of iranian studies reprint by touraj daryaee isbn. This is certainly the case with the sassanian also known as sassanid dynasty of iran, an empire which at one time ruled from the indus to the nile, from yemen to the caucasus. Founded around 226 ad, in persia, the sassanian empire lasted over 400 years as a grand imperial rival to. At the beginning of the 3rd century ad, the arsacid empire had been in existence for some 400 years. Dec 26, 2016 because rome may have been mighty, but we with our delightful eurocentrism often forget that the empire wasnt the only superpower in its time. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work even for commercial reasons, as long as they credit you and license their new creations under. But professor pourshariati explains their fall in terms of an earlier corrosion and decline, and as a result of their own internal weaknesses. Papak was originally the ruler of a region called khir.
Mar 30, 2017 but professor pourshariati explains their fall in terms of an earlier corrosion and decline, and as a result of their own internal weaknesses. All these factors undermined the strength of the persian army. Sassanid empire simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sasanian society was clearly from all points a very religious one, to the extent of fanaticism. The birth of the army dates back to the rise of ardashir i, the founder of the sasanian empire, to the throne. The sasanians, or sasanids 224641 ce were responsible for creating an important empire that included the plateau of iran, parts of central africa, arabia, and mesopotamia.
Unsuccessful siege of constantinople by avars, persians, and slavs. During 629 to 630 ce, the sasanian empire suffered the loss of yemen, oman, and bahrain. They were provided by the aristocracy, wore armor, and ranged from archers to. The sasanian empire during late antiquity is considered to have been one of irans most important, and influential historical periods and constituted the last great iranian empire before the muslim conquest of persia and the islamization of iran.
The sasanian empire was highly decentralized, and was in fact a confederation with the parthians, who themselves retained a high level of independence. Iranian nationalism and art experienced a renaissance under their empire, architecture took on grandiose proportions, and zoroastrianism enjoyed official status as the state religion. Jan 30, 2008 the sasanian era ebook written by vesta sarkhosh curtis, sarah stewart. Investigation of female dress in the sasanian period 224651 c. The sasanian dynasty was founded by ardashir i after defeating the last arsacid king of kings, artabanus iv and ended when the last sasanian the king of kings shahanshah, yazdegerd iii 632651, lost a 14year struggle to drive out the arab invaders from his empire. Baskerville professor in the history of iran and the persianate world and associate director of the dr. It also marks the third rise of a great iranian empire, a dynasty that rivaled its predecessor, the achaemenids, who too, like the sassanids, were native to the province of pars, and in some instances the parthians, in glory and power. The sasanians saw themselves as the successors of the achaemenid persians.
As part of the gorgias handbook series, this book provides a political and military history of the sasanian empire in late antiquity 220s to 651 ce. The sasanian empire also spelled sassanian, sasanid or sassanid was the last preislamic persian empire, established in 224 ce by ardeshir i, son of papak, descendant of sasan. Widely researched and vividly written, george mortonjacks account of the indian army s crucial contribution to the allied victory is unlikely to be surpassed any time soon. The sasanian era ebook written by vesta sarkhosh curtis, sarah stewart. The rise and fall of an empire international library of iranian studies reprint edition. The sasanian empire, also known as the sassanian, sasanid, sassanid or neopersian empire, was the last period of the persian empire before the rise of islam, named after the house of sasan, which ruled from 224 to 651 ad. A continuation of the romanpersian wars, the conflict involved several smaller campaigns and peace treaties lasting for years at a time. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Sasanian dynasty, ancient iranian dynasty that followed the parthian dynasty. The main role of the sassanian navy was to protect sassanian economic interests, not military expeditions, as the coasts of the persian gulf were already under rule of sassanians or their vassals. The byzantinesasanian wars, also known as the iranobyzantine wars refers to a series of conflicts between the eastern roman byzantine empire and the sassanian empire of persia. The sassanid empire was established in estakhr by ardashir i. Not much is known about the sassanian navy, which never really became a major force.
Another reason for a separation between eastern and western christianity was strong pressure from the sasanian authorities to sever connections with rome, since the sasanian empire was often at war with the roman empire. The sassanid empire or sassanian dynasty is the name used for the persian dynasty which lasted from 224 to 651 ad the sassanid empire, which succeeded the parthian empire, was recognized as one of the two main powers in western asia, alongside the roman empire and later the byzantine empire, for more than 400 years. May 17, 20 during 629 to 630 ce, the sasanian empire suffered the loss of yemen, oman, and bahrain. Yazdegerd iii was merely 8 years old when he came to the throne and, lacking experience, did not try to rebuild the army. Some regard the sasanian empire as the domain of persian ethnicity and the zoroastrian faith. This megaempire withstood powerful opponents in the steppe and expanded further in late antiquity, whilst the roman world shrunk in size. The empire was destroyed by the arabs in the 7th century. This subject is relatively obscure and a bit vulnerable to prejudice, so its great that a scholar with a great amount of passion and credibility like dr. At its height, the empire spanned from turkey and rhodes in the west to pakistan in the east, and also included territory in contemporary caucasus, yemen, uae, oman, egypt, israel, lebanon, syria, jordan and central asia. The year is 225 ad and the roman empire is on the brink of a precipice. Ancient sasanian empire, the subject of the june 7th. Today we introduce one of the most powerful forces of the late antiquity and early middle ages, the sasanid persian army iiivii century ad, which almost succeeded in. List of shahanshahs of the sasanian empire wikipedia.
In indian books, borzuya read that on a mountain in that land there grows a plant which when sprinkled over the dead revives them. It proposes a convincing contemporary answer answer to an agesold mystery and conundrum. The early sasanian state was more than a match for rome, and several roman armies were destroyed in the wars provoked by the first two sasanian kings, and in the 7 th century nearly all the roman empire was conquered by iran. Sasanian empire a big civilization learning history. Includes pictures includes ancient accounts includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading includes a table of contents during the first half of the 1st millennium ce, an empire arose in persia that extended its power and influence to mesopotamia in the east, arabia in the south, the caucasus mountains in the north, and as far east as india. List of rulers of the sasanian empire lists of rulers. Of profound importance in late antiquity, the sasanian empire is virtually unknown today, except as a counterpoint to the roman empire. Sahan sah i eran ud aneran, king of kings of iranians and noniranians ruled over a vast territory. Although it fought many campaigns against the romansbyzantines in the west and the. However, by the year 200, he managed to overthrow gochihr, and appoint himself as the new ruler of the bazrangids. The emphasis is on topics such as the society of the sasanian empire, the religions of the empire, the languages that were spoken, trade, and how the empire was administrated. Reviewed in the united states on february 27, 2018. New translations of ancient texts and evidence from archaeology have made knowledge of many onceobscure peoples and places accessible to the amateur historian.
In this capacity, the sasanian empire was also the major foe and political rival of the roman and byzantine empires in the west, as well as that of the kushans in its early history. In 633 ce the sasanian army was defeated by the muslim army at the battle of dat alsalasel. The sasanian empire 3rd 7th centuries was one of the largest empires of antiquity, stretching from mesopotamia to modern pakistan and from central asia to the arabian peninsula. He took ctesiphon, the capital of the parthian empire. The sasanian empire was the last great preislamic empire of iran whose rule spread through the length of late antiquity. This empire, known alternatively as the sasanian empire or sassanid empire, was the last of three great dynasties in persiathe achaemenid and the parthian being the first two dynastiesbefore the rise of islam. Christianity was recognized by king yazdegerd i in 409 as an allowable faith within the sasanian empire. The sasanian empire now modern iran and many other nearby areas has been on my list for quite some time.