The First World Empire: Rise and Fall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire

Schools and colleges are invited to take part in an exciting educational programme run in conjunction with the Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia exhibition. Students of the ancient world, whether in the context of Persia, Greece, Zoroastrianism, Jewish History, Classical Civilization or Ancient History, will benefit enormously from this opportunity to experience a culture which had so profound an influence on ancient history and on the definition of cultural identity in many areas of the world.

Shahrokh Razmjou

This education programme is designed to bring the Achaemenid Persian Empire (550-330 BC) to life for students between the ages of 13 and 18. We will visit your school to present a 60 minute film which with the use of computer-generated graphics brings the ruins of Persepolis, which was burned down by Alexander, back to life. See page xx of this brochure for a more detailed description of this film. This is the first successful attempt to reveal the magnificence of Persepolitan palaces as they were 2500 years ago. The accompanying lecture will be delivered by an expert in Ancient Persia, and will give students a context in which to place a visit to the exhibition itself.

The lecture at your school will focus on the following topics

Administration and Government
Advanced system of administration both at the centre of the Empire and the outlying provinces which were either governed by satraps or through rulers of local dynasties. Imperial postal service, road network and major infrastructure projects that made communication and trade possible.

Persian Expansion
Policy of religious and cultural tolerance towards the diverse population groups in the new territories that were incorporated into the Empire through conquest. The numerous hostile conflicts at the borders, using the Graeco-Persian wards as an example of how such conflicts were addressed and dealt with.

Gender
The important role played by women in Achaemenid society and the senior positions held by them in both the government and military hierarchy.

Decline
Alexander’s campaign against Greece and Persia and the ascent of Alexander to the Persian throne. End of the Empire and collapse of the administrative infrastructure upon the subdivision of the territories after Alexander’s death.

Schools will be responsible for travel expenses of their students to and from the British Museum, plus the travel expenses of the lecturer to and from their school. Schools will not incur any costs for the lecture, film screening and access to the exhibition (which is ticketed), and will be provided with a space in the Museum where students could have a snack or lunch. All food to be provided by the schools.

Schools will be accommodated on a first-come-fist-serve basis, and must register and schedule both the date for the lecture and film screening as well as the subsequent visit to the British Museum exhibition. The exhibition will be on display at the British Museum from 9 September 2005 to 8 January 2006.