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Early Empires in the Ancient Near East: Chapter Simulation: Persian Royal Road
Chapter Simulation—Student Instruction

Simulation
Early Empires in the Ancient Near East
Persian Royal Road
Presentation – Student Instruction
Overview
In 480 B.C., the Persian monarch Xerxes led a massive invasion force into Greece. He vowed revenge after the Athenian army attacked and defeated the Persian army led by his father, Darius, on the plain of Marathon. Xerxes’ forces included about 180,000 troops and thousands of warships and supply vessels. The Greeks tried to delay the Persians at the pass of Thermopylae, along the main road into central Greece. A Greek force of about 7,000 held off the Persian army for two days. Unfortunately for the Greeks, a traitor told the Persians how to use a mountain path to outflank the Greek force.
The Athenians, now threatened by the onslaught of the Persian forces, abandoned the city. Though outnumbered, the Greek fleet managed to outmaneuver the Persian fleet and defeat it near the island of Salamis. It proved to be the greatest victory in Athenian history.
After his defeat, Xerxes moved his forces into permanent camps for the winter. However, he did not want rumors to reach Persia and enlarge the scale of the Greek victory. He sent couriers to Susa, the Persian capital, to put the rumors to rest. The couriers used the Persian Royal Road, which the Greek historian Herodotus described thus:
Everywhere there are royal stations with excellent resting places, and the whole road runs through country which is inhabited and safe.
In this simulation, you will act as Persian couriers on the Persian Royal Road. As you relay Xerxes’ message to the next courier, you will describe your experiences on the ancient road.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
  • describe how the Persian Empire was sustained by well-maintained roads and way stations
  • describe the importance of the Persian Royal Road
In this simulation, each group will give a presentation about the Persian Royal Road. Using the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus as a reference, groups will deliver reports of their experiences as couriers on the Persian Royal Road, reporting on the conditions of that part of the road and what took place there. You should present your information in character, as if you are the couriers and have experienced the Royal Road firsthand.
Rules of the Presentation
1. Each group will be given 3 to 5 minutes to present.
2. Each member of the group must take an active part in both writing and presenting.
3. Remember to be respectful during the other groups’ presentations.
Steps of the Simulation
1. Perform research. World History and Geography, Early Empires of the Ancient Near East, Lesson 3: Assyria and Persia to help you gain a better understanding of the topic. Groups should also read the Handout: Book 5, section 52 of Herodotus’s The Histories, which deals with the Persian Royal Road. Jot down your notes on a separate sheet of paper. Make sure you meet all of the objectives. If the research cannot be completed during class, research the topic further as homework.
2. Use your research notes to write the key points on note cards. Choose roles and responsibilities for the presentation.
3. Assign one person in your group to time your presentation to make sure it does not exceed the 5-minute time limit.
4. Rehearse your presentation. Offer constructive feedback to other members of your group. Make sure your presentation is clear and meets the objectives of the simulation.
5. Give the presentation.
Rubric
100 pts. The presentation is exceptional. The group does an exceptional job describing a courier’s experiences on the Persian Royal Road. The group also does an exceptional job describing the conditions of its part of the road and what took place there. The group shows a strong understanding of the parameters of the assignment and understands all aspects of the objectives.
95 pts. The presentation is excellent. The group does an excellent job describing a courier’s experiences on the Persian Royal Road. The group also does an excellent job describing the conditions of its part of the road and what took place there. The group shows a good understanding of the parameters of the assignment and understands all aspects of the objectives.
80 pts. The presentation is like those receiving a rating of 95, except that some important elements are not excellent.
60 pts. The presentation is like those receiving a rating of 80, except that some important elements are not good.
40 pts. The group does a poor job describing a courier’s experiences on the Persian Royal Road. The group also does a poor job describing the conditions of its part of the road and what took place there. The presentation is not organized and is too long or too short. Verbal and/or nonverbal information is not accurate.
20 pts. The presentation is very poor.
Simulation
Early Empires in the Ancient Near East
Persian Royal Road
Handout: Herodotus,The Histories,Book 5, Section 52
At intervals all along the road are recognized stations, with excellent inns, and the road itself is safe to travel by, as it never leaves inhabited country. In Lydia and Phrygia, over a distance of 941/2 parasangs—about 330 miles—there are 20 stations. On the far side of Phrygia one comes to the river Halys; there are gates here, which have to be passed before one crosses the river, and a strong guard-post. Once over the river and into Cappadocia, a distance of 104 parasangs, with 28 stations, brings one to the Cilician border, where the road passes through two sets of gates, both guarded. These left behind, the distance through Cilicia is 15 1/2 parasangs, with three stations. Separating Cilicia from Armenia is a river, the Euphrates, which has to be crossed in a boat, and the distance across Armenia itself is 56 1/2 parasangs, with 15 stations or stopping-places. Here, too, there is a guard. Through this part of the country four rivers run, all of which have to be crossed by a ferry: the first is the Tigris; the second and third both have the same names—Zabatus—though they are different rivers and flow from distinct sources, one rising in Armenia, the other in Matiene; and the fourth is the Gyndes—the river which Cyrus once split up into three hundred and sixty channels. Leaving Armenia and entering Matiene, one has 137 parasangs to go, with 34 stations, and, passing from thence into Cissia, another 42 1/2 with 11 stations, which bring one to the river Choaspes–another navigable stream–on which the city of Susa stands. Thus the total number of stations, or posthouses, on the road from Sardis to Susa is 111. If the measurement of the Royal Road in parasnags is correct, and if a parasang is equal (as indeed it is) to 30 furlongs, then the distance from Sardis to the Palace of Mamnon (450 parasangs) will be 13,500 furlongs. Travelling, then, at the rate of 150 furlongs a day, a man will take just ninety days to make the journey. So one can see that Aristagoras of Miletus was quite right when he told the Spartan Cleomenes that it took three months to reach Susa from the sea. But, if anyone wants still greater accuracy, I would point out that the distance from Ephesus to Sardis would be added to the total, so that one gets, as a final measurement of the distance from the Aegean to Susa—the ‘city of Memnon’—14040 furlongs, Ephesus to Sardis being 540 furlongs, which increase the three months’ journey by three days.
From Herodotus, The Histories, Book 5, Section 52. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1983.
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