5 Ways the Persian Empire Made the Modern World
Summary
What This Article Is About
Jonny Thomson argues that the Persian Empire — one of history’s most consequential civilizations — has been systematically undervalued due to Greek-authored histories and a Eurocentric view of the ancient world. Covering modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the Achaemenid Dynasty (550–330 BCE) built innovations that shaped everything from governance to daily life.
Thomson outlines five lasting contributions: the Royal Road, the satrapy system of provincial governance, the world’s first formal postal service (the Chapar Khaneh), a policy of religious tolerance, and the tradition of landscaped gardens. He concludes that successor empires like Rome and the Abbasid Caliphate inherited and built upon these Persian inventions — yet Persia rarely receives the credit it deserves.
Key Points
Main Takeaways
History Written by Historians
Greek historians like Herodotus vilified Persia, creating a Eurocentric bias that has distorted our understanding of Persian achievements for two millennia.
The Royal Road Network
The Achaemenid Dynasty built over 2,500 kilometers of roads connecting the empire, a model that directly inspired Rome’s famous road network.
Satrapies: The First State
Persia’s satrapy system — appointing local governors over roughly 20 provinces — is considered the world’s first model of organized, centralized state governance.
World’s First Postal Service
Under Darius I, the Chapar Khaneh relay system used horse-swapping stations to deliver mail faster and more reliably than any previous civilization had managed.
Tolerance as State Policy
The Achaemenid emperors permitted conquered peoples to keep their religions and customs, making Persia the ancient world’s earliest significant example of cultural tolerance.
Gardens as a Legacy
Persian “Chahar Bagh” gardens popularized landscaped green spaces, influencing Islamic gardens in Spain, Mughal gardens in India, and eventually the domestic garden tradition in Europe.
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Article Analysis
Breaking Down the Elements
Main Idea
Persia Built the Foundations of Civilization
The Persian Empire created foundational systems — roads, postal services, bureaucratic governance, religious tolerance, and landscaped gardens — that successor empires adopted and that continue to shape modern life. Despite these contributions, Eurocentric historical narratives have consistently marginalized Persia’s role, crediting Rome or Greece for innovations that originated in Persepolis.
Purpose
To Rehabilitate a Forgotten Empire
Thomson writes to correct a historical injustice — the deliberate vilification and long neglect of the Persian Empire. His purpose is both to inform readers of specific Persian achievements and to persuade them that the standard Western-centric account of ancient history is incomplete and unfair to one of antiquity’s greatest civilizations.
Structure
Contextual → Listicle → Conclusive
The article opens with historical context — explaining why Persia has been overlooked — before moving into five clearly headed sections, each describing one Persian contribution. It closes with a reflective conclusion that ties together the irony of Persia’s invisibility. This Contextual → Listicle → Conclusive structure makes the argument easy to follow for general readers.
Tone
Conversational, Enthusiastic & Corrective
Thomson writes with wit and energy — using humorous asides like “chafed thighs” alongside serious historical argument. The overall tone is conversational and accessible, but with an unmistakable undercurrent of advocacy: he wants readers to feel the injustice of Persia’s neglect and to leave with genuine admiration for the empire’s achievements.
Key Terms
Vocabulary from the Article
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Tough Words
Challenging Vocabulary
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Indulging excessively in sensual pleasures; living without moral restraint or discipline.
“…the Persian Empire as a place of dissolute, depraved, decadent demons…”
Characterized by moral or cultural decline; excessively self-indulgent and devoted to luxury at the expense of deeper values.
“…a place of dissolute, depraved, decadent demons who sought only the death and enslavement of all civilized peoples.”
Relating to the first Persian Empire (550–330 BCE), founded by Cyrus the Great and named after an ancestor, Achaemenes.
“Under the Achaemenid Dynasty (550–330 BCE), they built a network of over 2,500 kilometers of roads…”
People or states that are subordinate and owe loyalty or service to a more powerful ruler or nation.
“…most ’empires’ are simply a collection of disconnected and temporarily cowed vassals.”
One of the world’s oldest religions, founded in ancient Persia by the prophet Zoroaster, and considered a possible forerunner of monotheism.
“Zoroastrianism was the official state religion of Persia and is also, at 4,000 years old, possibly the oldest monotheistic religion.”
Green with grass or other rich vegetation; lush and flourishing in a way that is visually pleasing.
“…make sure something verdant and lovely was always within eyeshot of the house.”
Reading Comprehension
Test Your Understanding
5 questions covering different RC question types
1The Romans invented the first extensive road network, which the Persians later copied and expanded.
2According to the article, what was the primary function of a satrap in the Persian Empire?
3Which sentence best explains why the Persian Empire is considered the world’s first true “state”?
4Evaluate the following statements about Persian religious policy and culture based on the article.
The Persian Empire permitted conquered peoples to keep their own religious beliefs and practices.
The Babylonians were cited in the article as an example of religious tolerance in the ancient world.
Zoroastrianism, at approximately 4,000 years old, is described as possibly the oldest monotheistic religion.
Select True or False for all three statements, then click “Check Answers”
5What can be inferred about the relationship between the Persian Empire’s diversity and its scientific achievements?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The Royal Road was a network of over 2,500 kilometers of roads built under the Achaemenid Dynasty (550–330 BCE), connecting the outer provinces of the Persian Empire to its capital, Persepolis. It allowed efficient movement of troops, goods, and information across a vast empire — and directly inspired the famous Roman road network that came later.
Introduced under Emperor Darius I (548–486 BCE), the Chapar Khaneh used a relay system of postal houses spaced roughly a day’s ride apart. Messengers would ride a horse to exhaustion, swap it for a fresh one at the next station, and continue — making mail delivery far faster and more reliable than any previous system in the ancient world.
Thomson argues that Persia was deliberately vilified by Greek historians — who were their enemies — and then further neglected by Eurocentric education that traced civilization from Greece to Rome to Britain. Ironically, Persia’s innovations were so successfully adopted by successor empires like Rome and the Abbasid Caliphate that those empires received the credit instead.
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This article is rated Beginner. It uses common, accessible vocabulary and presents its argument in a clear, conversational style. While it introduces some historical terms (like “satrapy” and “Achaemenid”), these are explained within the text. It is suitable for readers building their reading comprehension skills or approaching ancient history for the first time.
Jonny Thomson is a philosophy writer and educator known for making complex ideas accessible to general audiences. Big Think is a well-regarded online media platform that publishes accessible content on science, philosophy, and history from expert contributors. Together, they make this article a reliable starting point for exploring the legacy of the Persian Empire.
The Ultimate Reading Course covers 9 RC question types: Multiple Choice, True/False, Multi-Statement T/F, Text Highlight, Fill in the Blanks, Matching, Sequencing, Error Spotting, and Short Answer. This comprehensive coverage prepares you for any reading comprehension format you might encounter.
