The Cambridge History of Iran

Volume 2 covers the period from the formation of the first multi-national empire to Alexander's conquest.

I. Gershevitch (Edited by)

9780521200912, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 June 1985

964 pages
18.6 x 30.2 x 6.4 cm, 1.715 kg

The second volume describes the formation, in the sixth century BC, of the earliest multi-national empire, its administration, its confrontation with Greece, and its eventual dissolution under the impact of Alexander's conquest of Iran in 331 BC. This was a time of great importance in the history of the entire Middle East, and embraced figures of the stature of Cyrus, Darius and Xerxes. The sources for this period are more diverse than for any other in Iran's history, the bulk of the evidence being preserved in Babylonian, Elamite, Egyptian and Greek. The involvement in this volume of specialists in each of these fields has ensured that the results of the intensive research of recent years are incorporated in this synthesis. In addition to the strictly historical accounts there are chapters on art and architecture, metalwork and glyptic, calendar systems, weights and measures, religion, and the eastern Iranian world as reflected in the Avesta.

List of plates
List of text figures
List of maps
1. Elam I. M. Diakonoff
2. Anshan in the Median and Achaemenian periods J. Hansman
3. Media I. M. Diakonoff
4. The Scyths T. Sulimirski
5. The rise of the Achaemenids and establishment of their empire J. M. Cook
6. Persia and the Greeks A. R. Burn
7. Cyrus the Great (558–529 BC) Max Mallowan
8. Alexander in Iran E. Badian
9. The Persian occupation of Egypt E. Bresciani
10. The Babylonian evidence of Achaemenian rule in Mesopotamia A. L. Oppenheim
11. The evidence of the Persepolis tablets R. T. Hallock
12. Achaemenid coins, weights and measures A. D. H. Bivar
13. The old eastern Iranian world view according to the Avesta M. Schwartz
14. The religion of Achaemenian Iran M. Schwartz
15. Aramaic in the Achaemenian Empire J. C. Greenfield
16. Old Iranian calendars Willy Hartner
17. Classic Achaemenian architecture and sculpture Edith Porada
18. The Behistun relief Ann Farkas
19. Tepe Nush-i Jan: the Median settlement David Stronach
20. Pasargadae David Stronach
21. Metalwork and glyptic P. R. S. Moorey
Appendixes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Asian history [HBJF]