Home Region: Iran (Southwest Asia)

Parthian Empire I

247 BCE 40 CE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 ir_parthian_emp_1 / IrPart1

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

[elite migration; Confederacy of the Dahae] [elite replacement] Update here

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

41 CE 226 CE Parthian Empire II (iq_parthian_emp_2) [continuity]

25 CE 215 CE Elymais II (ir_elymais_2) [None]

Displayed:

Learn more about polity border choices. Map Modern Map only Opacity Year Play rate (y/s)
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.

General Description

The first ruler of the Parthian dynasty was Arsaces who lived at about 240 BCE ^[1] but the founder of the Parthian Empire (171 BCE - 40 CE period) was Mithridates I, who initiated the Parthian conquest of Persia and Babylonia from the Seleucids. ^[2] The Parthians were essentially "a military aristocracy" ^[3] that ruled the many different peoples (e.g. Persians, Greeks, Jews, Babylonians) who lived in Persia and Babylonia.
Parchments and ostra found at Dura-Europas show the Parthians had "an extensive and developed bureaucracy". ^[4] The Parthians, who were originally a nomadic tribe (the Parni) from northeastern Iran ^[4] , conquered Seleucid territory that already possessed municipal, provincial (satrapal) and central government. The Parthians had some centralized institutions but these were not based at a capital city but "moved from city to city along with their administration." ^[5]
The Parthian nobility was inserted into the regional governance structures they inherited ^[6] as satraps appointed by the king, while much of the rest of the territory consisted of directly granted personal fiefs ^[7] or vassal kingdoms. ^[8] In terms of central government the Parthian Arsacids retained the Achaemenid model (as had the Seleucids) which had departments called diwans "responsible for record-keeping, communication, budgeting, and taxation." The departments were run by individuals called dibirs who were themselves responsible to a first-minister. ^[5]

[1]: (Neusner 2008, 16) JAcob Neusner. 2008. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. 1. The Parthian Period. Wipf & Stock. Eugene.

[2]: (Neusner 2008, 16) Jacob Neusner. 2008. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. 1. The Parthian Period. Wipf & Stock. Eugene.

[3]: (Dabrowa 2012, 180) Edward Dabrowa. The Arcasid Empire. in Daryaee, Touraj ed. 2012. The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press.

[4]: (Koshelenko and Pilipko 1999, 146) G A Koshelenko. V N Pilipko. in Ahmad Hasan Dani. 1999. History of Civilizations of Central Asia: The development of sedentary and nomadic civilizations: 700 B.C. to A.D. 250. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.

[5]: Khodadad Rezakhani. 2016. Arsacid Society and Culture. Accessed 06.09.2016: https://iranologie.com/the-history-page/the-arsacid-empire/arsacid-society-and-culture/

[6]: (Neusner 2008, 18) Neusner, Jacob. 2008. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. 1. The Parthian Period. Wipf & Stock. Eugene.

[7]: (Neusner 2008, 18) Jacob Neusner. 2008. A History of the Jews in Babylonia. 1. The Parthian Period. Wipf & Stock. Eugene.

[8]: (Koshelenko and Pilipko 1994, 141) G A Koshelenko. V N Pilipko. Parthia. in Janos Harmatta. B N Puri. G F Etemadi. eds. 1994. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. Volume II. The development of sedentary and nomadic civilizatins 700 B.C. to A.D. 250. UNESCO Publishing.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

5 Capital

4 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

3 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

2 Language

Religion

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

2 Population of the Largest Settlement

3 Polity Territory

5 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

2 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Non Phonetic Writing

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

Military use of Metals

2 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

19 Power Transition

Instability Events

40 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1) was in:
(143 BCE 95 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana
(95 BCE 21 CE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana / Kachi Plain
(21 CE 24 CE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Susiana
(24 CE 40 CE)	Southern Mesopotamia

Home NGA: Susiana

General Variables

Identity and Location Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	40 S	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Original Name	Parthian Empire I	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Capital	Nisa	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Capital	Hekatompylos	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Capital	Rhagae	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Capital	Ectatana	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Capital	Ctesiphon	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Arsacid Empire	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Parthia	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Parthians	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Arsacid Kingdom	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	120 BCE
Loading...

Duration	[247 BCE ➜ 40 CE]
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	alliance with [---]	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Supracultural Entity	Greco-Bactrian	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity	Parthian Empire II	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Scale of Supracultural Interaction	[3,500,000 to 4,000,000] km²	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Relationship to Preceding Entity	elite migration	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 41 CE 226 CE	Parthian Empire II (iq_parthian_emp_2) [continuity]
Loading...

Preceding Entity	elite migration; Confederacy of the Dahae [elite replacement] Update here
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 25 CE 215 CE	Elymais II (ir_elymais_2) [None]
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	confederated state	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Language Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Indo-European	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Language	Greek	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Language	Pahlavi	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Religion Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	300,000 people	100 BCE
Loading...

Population of the Largest Settlement	[400,000 to 600,000] people	1 CE
Loading...

Polity Territory	280,000 km²	200 BCE
Loading...

Polity Territory	2,000,000 km²	100 BCE
Loading...

Polity Territory	3,000,000 km²	1 CE
Loading...

Polity Population	[50,000 to 100,000] people	200 BCE
Loading...

Polity Population	5,450,000 people	100 BCE
Loading...

Polity Population	25,000,000 people Disputed	1 CE
Loading...

Polity Population	7,500,000 people Disputed	1 CE
Loading...

Polity Population	15,000,000 people Disputed	1 CE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	[4 to 5]	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Religious Level	3	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Military Level	6	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Administrative Level	[5 to 6]	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Professions Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present Disputed	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Professional Soldier	Absent Disputed	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Professional Priesthood	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Professional Military Officer	Absent Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Bureaucracy Characteristics Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Examination System	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Law Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Judge	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Court	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Irrigation System	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Food Storage Site	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Drinking Water Supply System	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Port	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Canal	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Bridge	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Information / Writing System Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Script	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Nonwritten Record	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Non Phonetic Writing	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Mnemonic Device	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Sacred Text	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Practical Literature	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Philosophy	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

History	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Fiction	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Calendar	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Information / Money Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Precious Metal	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Paper Currency	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Article	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

General Postal Service	Absent Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Courier	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moat	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Fortified Camp	Absent Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Ditch	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Present Uncertain	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Steel	Absent Uncertain	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Iron	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Copper	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Bronze	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Projectiles Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Sling	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Self Bow	Absent Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Javelin	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Crossbow	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Sword	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Spear	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Polearm	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Dagger	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Elephant	Absent	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Donkey	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Dog	Absent Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Camel	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Armor Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Shield	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Present Inferred	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Helmet	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Chainmail	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Breastplate	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Naval technology Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Unknown Suspected	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Present	247 BCE 40 CE
Loading...

Human Sacrifice Parthian Empire I (ir_parthian_emp_1)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More