Weapons+and+transportation+of+the+Persian+empire

W eapons and transportation of the Persian Empire

__**Strategy**__

. Although many of the Persian empires rulers were great generals it was the tactics that made the empire prevail in most battles. The most common way that Persians won battles was through the use of archery the cavalry might also try to surround or drive off enemy mounted troops but first the infantry wedged their wooden, hide-covered shields into the ground in front of them to act as a barrier. Then they let loose swarms of arrows at their foes during the swarm of arrows the infantry would run w=underneath the arrows so that when the opposing army came out of cover because of the arrows the would be taken by surprise and likely killed by the charging infantry then they would repeat the process through waves of enemy soldiers.

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 * __Types of weapons and shield’s__

Bow**

. The bow was the core weapon of the Persian army, most of the infantry being armed with a powerful recurved bow similar to the similar Scythian weapon. Recurved bows gained their power by bending the bow opposite to the natural curve of the weapon, creating added tension and force. In battle the large numbers of Persian archers would fire in massive barrages, sending sheets of arrows down on their opponents. Unfortunately, despite the power of their bow, the Persian arrows were extremely light, made of cane and tipped with a three-flanged bronze arrowhead. Due to the lightness of the missile, Persian troops were unable to puncture the heavy armor of Hellenistic soldiers. The recurved bow could be held in a carrying case hung on the back or the left side of a soldier’s belt. In addition the quiver was worn on the hip and allowed for rapid fire, whether on foot or on horseback. The famous Immortals also used the recurved bow, although they carried their quiver on their backs to allow them to close for hand-to-hand combat.

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 * Thrusting Spear**

. Persian soldiers used a fairly short thrusting spear as their main weapon. Roughly 7 feet long, they were equipped with a broad iron spearhead and counterbalanced by a round metal counterweight. In more elite units the counterweight was silver for soldiers, their officers being equipped with golden ones while bronze counterweights were more common in the rank and file of the Persian army. As a result of these metal counterweights Persian troops were known as “apple-bearers”. In addition to the short spear, the Persians also fielded pikes of roughly 10 feet.

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. Originally developed by the Scythians, the early Achaemenid Persians adopted the akinakes as their main sword in combat. Roughly 20 inches long (give or take a few inches), the akinakes was worn on the right hip, near the soldier’s fighting hand. The iron blade could be used for either cutting or stabbing, being double edged. Elite troops such as the famous Persian Immortals, or Amrtaka, were the main users of the akinakes, common soldiers being too poor afford swords. Persian soldiers began using the weapon in the 7th century BC until it finally disappeared from history in the 2nd century BC.
 * Akinakes**

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 * Spara**

. These were large rectangular shields made of reed or whicker, covered with leather and were often elaborately painted. In battle a row of infantry known as sparabara would advance in front of missile troops such as javelin throwers or archers. They would lock the roughly 5-foot spara together, forming a wall behind which the archers could fire safe from enemy cavalry and heavy infantry, while the sparabara engaged the enemy with spears. Spara disappeared from the ranks in the early 4th century BC.

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 * Linothorax**

. Greek armor made a great impression upon the Persians, since the vast difference in protection between the opposing armies during the Persian Wars had been in part a reason for the Achaemenid defeat on a tactical level. By the late 5th and early 4th century BC, some Persian soldiers were equipped with the Greek linothorax, a cuirass made up of glued layers of linen. As with most pieces of armor, the linothorax was worn mainly by the cavalry, who were made up of the social elite.

. In conclusion there are many other weapons in the Persian Empire tat I could not mention such as Scale (type of armor) Palta (spear) Akinaka (dagger) Kopis (throwing dagger)

. Helmets (the Persian Empire did not use many helmets however when they did they were made of bronze and were pointing upward

The second is Oxfords First Ancient History by: Roy Burrell and illustrations by: Peter Connolly pg 145


 * Transportation**

. Darius was known very well for creating many vast roadways for trade and travel but there was none greater than what Darius called the royal road. The royal road was quite the engineering feat because the road had to traveled through mountains forests and deserts the Persians did not have asphalt but they did know how to pack earth and lay stone which is exactly what they did the road was resistant to water and was relatively straight the road had 111 rest stations (every 18 miles) across its span and each of these stations where equipped with things like horses water and some food and to ensure the safety of people using the road and of course invasion from other countries their were watchmen assigned to travel up and down the road to keep patrol and if a watchmen went missing the Persians would know because the watchmen would have to check in every 18 miles at a rest stop. The road went from the now know turkey to central Iran in a time of about 6 days which is fantastic for messengers and trade. There was almost every form of weather, you had to travel through desert forests and mountains and they all had an affect on the road.

. The Persians had a great system here and it would defiantly not be forgotten in history.

The second is Oxfords First Ancient History by: Roy Burrell and illustrations by: Peter Connolly pg.152