Fernando Ariel Alvarenga

ESL 924 Grammar/Writing IV

Cañada College
A. Castello
11/08/2010

Ancient Greece and the Persian Empire

The oikumene is a Greek word that means the known world. In the context of the 6th

century B.C., three superpowers ruled that world. If we observe a 6th century’s map of the

Mediterranean World, we will see that it is divided into three spheres of influence: The Greeks at

the center flanked by the two empires of Carthage and Persia. Early in the 5th century B.C., the

Persians started military campaigns with the objective to extend their rule to Greece, but they

were defeated in each of their attempts. In this context, the Greek city-states and the Persian

Empire were antagonistic because they had the same ambition; in fact, they wanted to be the

greatest in the world. Both the Greek city-states and the Persian Empire developed different

identities-sharing some aspects in common-based upon their geography, politic organization,

military, religion, and economics.

One aspect in common that had a big influence in the city-states of Greece and the Persian

Empire development was the geography. Not only the region that nowadays we known as Iran

but also the peninsula of Attica are mountainous and the fertile soil may be thin and poor.

Mountain ranges protect those regions from invasion, and they also make overland

communications slow and difficult. The different is that there were no harbors in the most of

Persian’s territory; on the other hand, the Greeks developed an important network of harbors

along their territory.

Other area in common between those superpowers was their economy. Economically

speaking Greece and Persia were similar; in fact, they depended on imports, while still having

1
some exports. The difference between them was that the Persians traded overland, while the

Greek city-states traded overseas. Greece needed to import timber, gold, copper, iron, and grain.

The metals were necessary for military weapons. The grain was needed as food source. The

Persians had to import most of their goods, except for minerals and crafted goods. The minerals

gave the Persians a huge advantage. These resources were very expensive and a sign of wealth.

The copper and tin were used to make weapons and armors, making their armies ever stronger.

In spite of these aspects in common, these two antagonistic superpowers had several

different aspects that influenced in their develop.