Sassanid Empire Middle-Eastern empires

the sassanid era, encompassing length of late antiquity period, considered 1 of important , influential historical periods in iran. in many ways sassanid period witnessed highest achievement of persian civilization, , constituted last great iranian empire before muslim conquest , adoption of islam.

whereas romans seen main aggressors against parthians, these roles reversed sassanids in aggressiveness against romans , later byzantines.

the sassanids came power on wave of nationalism , pride. first shah of sassanid dynasty, ardashir, promised destroy hellenistic influence in persia, avenge darius iii against heirs of alexander, , reconquer territories once held achaemenid kings. shah saw romans persia’s main enemy, , in following wars ensued, sassanids upheld promises of ardashir.

ardashir began reign conquering few lands left under parthian control invading armenia. blamed romans aiding armenians, close ally rome, , in 230 invaded mesopotamia , besieged nisibis, unsuccessfully, while cavalry threatened cappadocia , syria.

the romans shocked when heard persians had invaded. still thought of sassanids no different parthians, however, sassanids different in terms of aggressiveness , nationalistic zeal , romans realize this. romans sent delegation ask persian withdrawal, noting past defeats of parthians romans warning. ardashir rejected , in 231 rome mobilized war under severus alexander, drawing troops egypt black sea form 3 massive armies.

rome s forces, under emperor alexander split 3 columns, 1 went armenia (the left column), 1 went euphrates (the right column), , 1 stayed in mesopotamia, led emperor himself. ardashir engaged right column in battle, defeated it, , on note, alexander decided end war , retreated, although peace treaty never signed.

in 233, after winning wars in east, ardashir again invaded rome, time captured nisibis , carrhae. ardashir extended persian empire oxus in north-east, euphrates in west, , on death bed in 241, passed on crown shapur, carry on war further rome.

the sassanid dynasty revived old achaemenid traditions, including zoroastrianism, ardashir had promised. however, exhausting wars byzantium left empire unready face muslim armies arabia.