Achaemenian Dynasty; Achaemenidae

Japanese: アケメネス朝 - アケメネスちょう（英語表記）Achaemenian Dynasty; Achaemenidae

A dynasty of the ancient Persian Empire (550-330 BC). Its founder was the Persian chieftain Achaemenid (reigned c. 700-675 BC), who migrated south and settled in the southwestern Iranian plateau. In 550 BC, Cyrus II destroyed Media and established its independence, then conquered Neo-Babylonia, and his son Cambyses II occupied Egypt. Darius I built the first great unified empire in history, which extended over almost all of Western Asia, including northwestern India. The capital was Susa, later Persepolis. The king had a divine right, claiming to have ascended to the throne by the will of the supreme god Ahura Mazda, and called himself "King of kings." The system was centralized, with satraps (provincial governors) in the 20 or so provinces of the country, as well as military commanders, tax collectors, and supervisors who reported directly to the king. However, they were tolerant of other ethnic groups, and allowed them autonomy along with their own beliefs, languages, and customs. They established a tax system based on agriculture and commerce, and developed a road network and a relay system, and minted gold and silver currency. Merchant capital, mainly Aramaean, and mercenary troops made up of many ethnic groups, including Greeks, played important roles in the economy and military of the empire. Zoroastrianism flourished, and a unique style of art was developed. They not only created the foundations of Iranian civilization, but also brought together the culture of West Asia since Sumer, creating a great civilization, and it is said that their influence extended to China and India in the east and Europe in the west. However, they failed in their invasions of Scythia and Greece (→Persian Wars), and were later destroyed in 330 BC by Alexander the Great (the Great).

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

古代ペルシア帝国の王朝 (前 550～330) 。イラン高原南西部に南下，定着したペルシア人の首長，アケメネス (在位前 700頃～675頃) を始祖とする。前 550年キュロス2世はメディアを滅ぼして独立，次いで新バビロニアを征服し，その子カンビセス2世はエジプトを占領した。ダレイオス1世はインド北西部まで含めて，西アジアのほとんど全域にわたる史上最初の大統一帝国を建設した。首都はスーサ，のちペルセポリスにおかれた。国王は最高神アフラ・マズダの意志によって即位したとする神権的性格をもち，「諸王の王」と自称した。中央集権体制をとり，全国二十余州にはサトラップ (州総督) のほか，国王に直属する軍司令官，徴税官，監督官をおいた。しかし異民族には寛容で，それぞれの固有の信仰，言語，風習とともに自治を認めた。農業と通商を経済的基礎とし，租税体系を確立した。道路網や駅伝制を整備し，金，銀の通貨を鋳造した。またアラム人を主とする商業資本や，ギリシア人を含む多数の異民族から成る傭兵隊が，帝国の経済，軍事上に重要な役割を演じた。ゾロアスター教が盛んになり，美術に独自の様式が生れた。イラン文明の基盤をつくったのみならず，シュメール以来の西アジア文化を集大成して一大文明圏を現出し，その影響は東は中国やインド，西はヨーロッパに及んだといわれる。しかしスキタイ遠征やギリシア遠征 (→ペルシア戦争 ) に失敗し，のちアレクサンドロス3世 (大王) の侵攻を受けて，前 330年滅亡した。

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