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The Burnt City: Unearthing The Ancient City Of Persepolis | Lost Worlds | Timeline

Timeline - World History Documentaries・29 minutes read

Persepolis, an ancient Persian capital, offers insights into the sophisticated and tolerant civilization that built it, stretching from India to Egypt. Despite its destruction by Alexander the Great, Persepolis' legacy endures through its architectural marvels and cultural achievements, showcasing the greatness of the Persian Empire.

Insights

  • Persepolis, the ancient capital of the Persian Empire, was a center of architectural brilliance and cultural significance, showcasing the grandeur and achievements of the Persians, who maintained a mysterious presence in history compared to other ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians.
  • The Persian Empire, known for its tolerance, sophisticated infrastructure like the impressive road system and formal gardens, and its focus on preserving subject nations' cultural identities, eventually faced downfall at the hands of Alexander the Great, who destroyed Persepolis as a symbol of eliminating Persian power. Despite this destruction, the legacy of the Persians endured, with the city's excavation in the 1930s revealing their lasting impact on history as one of the great civilizations of antiquity.

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  • What is Persepolis?

    Ancient city in Iran, capital of vast empire.

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Summary

00:00

Uncovering Persepolis: Ancient Persian Empire Revealed

  • Persepolis, an ancient city in Iran, was the capital of a vast empire built 2,500 years ago.
  • The Persians, who built Persepolis, are still a mystery in history compared to Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians.
  • Recent political changes in Iran have allowed Western visitors to explore ancient Persian history.
  • Dr. Lloyd Llewellyn Jones, after 15 years of study, visits Persepolis to understand Persian civilization.
  • Persepolis, largely ignored in history, was the heart of the Persian Empire, revealing their achievements.
  • Cyrus, a tribal leader, established the Persian Empire, stretching from India to Greece, Egypt, and Russia.
  • Persepolis, built by Darius the Great, was uncovered in the 1930s, revealing its wonders and secrets.
  • Clay tablets found at Persepolis provide insights into the Empire's workings, detailing costs and materials used.
  • Persepolis' grandeur, with its Gate of All Nations and royal halls, showcases the architectural brilliance of the Persians.
  • Persepolis served as a ceremonial center where subject nations paid tribute to the Persian King, reinforcing loyalty.

23:47

Persian Empire: Tolerance, Infrastructure, and Downfall

  • Persian Empire focused on tolerance and allowing subject nations to maintain their own cultural identities to ensure peace and stability.
  • Infrastructure, like the ancient Persian road system, was crucial for controlling and managing the vast empire spanning 4000 kilometers.
  • The Persian road system impressed the Greeks, extending from Persepolis to other cities like Souza, Ephesus, India, and Egypt.
  • Persian couriers utilized staging posts with fresh horses to maintain incredible speed and efficiency in communication across the empire.
  • The staging posts also ensured safety for travelers and traders, protecting them from bandits and enabling movement across vast territories.
  • The Persian kings managed their empire from Persepolis, showcasing tolerance, peace, and wealth through their management and innovations.
  • King Cyrus created the first formal gardens in the world at Pasargadae, showcasing Persian sophistication and refinement in culture.
  • The Persian gardens were meticulously designed with irrigation channels, symbolic plantings, and imported trees to reflect the empire's grandeur.
  • Persian textiles and luxury goods, like those found in modern Iranian bazaars, were central to expressing status, wealth, and power.
  • The Greeks, while admiring some aspects of Persian culture, ultimately despised their perceived decadence, leading to the downfall of the Persian Empire at the hands of Alexander the Great.

44:48

Legacy of Persepolis: Destruction and Discovery

  • Alexander, in his conquest of the Persian Empire, decided to destroy Persepolis as a symbol of eliminating Persian power. His soldiers burned and looted the city, causing chaos and devastation as they ransacked the unprotected city, leading to a horrific carnage.
  • Despite the destruction of Persepolis by Alexander, the legacy of the Persians endured. The city's remains, buried under ashes for 2,000 years, were eventually excavated in the 1930s, revealing insights into Persian life. The Persians' cultural achievements, including their formal gardens and Empire built on tolerance, have left a lasting impact on history, positioning them as one of the great civilizations of antiquity.
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