Home Region:  Iran (Southwest Asia)

Sasanid Empire I

205 CE 487 CE
EQ 2020  ir_sassanid_emp_1 / IrSasn1
Preceding Entity: Add one more here.
41 CE 226 CE Parthian Empire II (iq_parthian_emp_2)    [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:
No Polity found. Add one here.

Displayed:



Learn more about polity border choices.
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.


  General Description  
The Sassanids came from the Parthian province of Persis near the Zagros mountains of western Iran. Ardashir I defeated the last Parthian ruler Ardawan (Artabanus IV) in 224 CE and claimed the title "King of Kings" in imitation of the ancient Archaemenids. The early Sassanid rulers claimed a divine descent until powerful Zoroastrian priests ended this by the 4th century. The long reign of Shapur II (309-379 CE) saw the peak of peace and security within the empire [1] that had a total population of perhaps 5 million people.
In the early period royal cities were built and administered by shahrabs who ruled as petty kings. [2] Centralization occurred in the later Sassanid period when the empire was split into four parts each ruled by a spahbad who had civil and military powers. [2]
The size of Persian court and bureaucracy notability increases between Ardashir I and Shapur I (240-270 CE). [3] Institutions of administration continued to evolve from those present in the Parthian era [2] a grand vizier now present at the central government in the capital Ctesiphon whose remit encompassed control of the diwans, diplomatic affairs as well as occasional stints as commander of the army. [4] By the fifth century the centralized bureaucracy was sophisticated enough that "the death of a king would not bring the empire down." [5]
Rise of Zoroastrian Church under Kerdir 274 CE had monumental impact on Persia with the persecution of religious minorities (Christians, Manichaeans, Mandeans, Jews and Buddhists) [6] . The Zoroastrian priests had initially tolerated rival religious such as Manichaeism until Shapur I (240-270 CE) but Mani was eventually executed. [3] By the time of Bahram II (274-293 CE) the Sasanian kings themselves had lost their own religious freedom as caretakers of the Anahid fire temple to a priest called Kerdir "who became the judge of the whole empire. ... from this point on, the priests acted as judges throughout the empire, and court cases were probably based on Zoroastrian law except when members of other religious minorities had disputes with each other." [6]

[1]: (Daryaee 2009, 2-20, 200) Touraj Daryaee. 2009. Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. I.B. Tauris. London.

[2]: (Chegini 1996, 45) N N Chegini. Political History, Economy and Society. in Litvinsky, B. A. ed. and Iskender-Mochiri, I. ed. 1996. History of Civilizations of Central Asia. Volume III. The crossroads of civilizations: A.D. 250 to 750. pp.40-58. unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001046/104612e.pdf

[3]: (Daryaee 2009, 2-20) Touraj Daryaee. 2009. Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. I.B. Tauris. London.

[4]: (Wilcox 1986, 24) P Wilcox. 1986. Rome’s Enemies (3): Parthians and Sassanid Persians. Osprey Publishing.

[5]: (Daryaee 2012, 196) Daryaee, Touraj. The Sasanian Empire (224-651 CE). in Daryaee, Touraj. ed. 2012. The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

[6]: (Daryaee 2012, 191) Touraj Daryaee. The Sasanian Empire (224-651 CE). in Daryaee, Touraj. ed. 2012. The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.
Religion Variables Coding in Progress.
Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1) was in:
 (220 CE 231 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana
 (231 CE 251 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Sogdiana
 (251 CE 387 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Sogdiana   /   Kachi Plain
 (387 CE 495 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana   /   Kachi Plain
 (495 CE 498 CE) Southern Mesopotamia   /   Susiana
Home NGA: Susiana

General Variables
Identity and Location Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Utm Zone 38 S 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Original Name Sassanid Empire I 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Capital 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Capital 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Capital 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Alternative Name 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Temporal Bounds Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Peak Years
Loading...
Duration
Loading...
Political and Cultural Relations Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Suprapolity Relations 388 CE  477 CE
Loading...
Suprapolity Relations 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Suprapolity Relations 408 CE  561 CE
Loading...
Supracultural Entity Persian 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Succeeding Entity Sassanid Empire II 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Scale of Supracultural Interaction 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Relationship to Preceding Entity continuity 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Preceding Entity
41 CE 226 CE
Loading...
Degree of Centralization 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Language Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Linguistic Family Indo-European 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Language 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Religion Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Alternate Religion Uncoded Undecided 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Social Complexity Variables
Social Scale Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Population of the Largest Settlement 220 CE 360 CE
Loading...
Population of the Largest Settlement 361 CE 487 CE
Loading...
Polity Territory 220 CE 300 CE
Loading...
Polity Territory 301 CE 487 CE
Loading...
Polity Population 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Hierarchical Complexity Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Settlement Hierarchy 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Religious Level 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Military Level 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Administrative Level 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Professions Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Soldier 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Professional Priesthood 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Professional Military Officer 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Occupational Complexity 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Bureaucracy Characteristics Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Government Building 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Merit Promotion Absent Inferred 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Full Time Bureaucrat 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Examination System 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Law Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Professional Lawyer 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Judge 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
205 CE  487 CE
205 CE  487 CE
Court 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Specialized Buildings: polity owned Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Market 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Irrigation System 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Food Storage Site 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Drinking Water Supply System 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Transport Infrastructure Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Road 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Port 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Canal 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Bridge 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Special-purpose Sites Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Mines or Quarry Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Information / Writing System Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Written Record 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Script 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Phonetic Alphabetic Writing Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Nonwritten Record 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Non Phonetic Writing Absent 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Mnemonic Device Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Information / Kinds of Written Documents Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Scientific Literature 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Sacred Text Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Religious Literature 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Practical Literature 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Philosophy 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Lists Tables and Classification Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
History 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Fiction 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Calendar Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Information / Money Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Token Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Precious Metal Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Paper Currency Absent 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Indigenous Coin 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Foreign Coin 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Article Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Information / Postal System Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Postal Station 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
General Postal Service 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Courier 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Information / Measurement System Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)
Fortifications Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wooden Palisade Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Stone Walls Non Mortared 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Stone Walls Mortared 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Settlements in a Defensive Position Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Modern Fortification Absent 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moat 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Fortified Camp Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Earth Rampart 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Ditch 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Complex Fortification 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Long Wall 195 km 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Military use of Metals Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Steel 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Iron 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Copper 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Bronze 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Projectiles Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Tension Siege Engine 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Sling Siege Engine 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Sling 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Self Bow 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Javelin 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Handheld Firearm Absent 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Gunpowder Siege Artillery 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Crossbow 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Composite Bow 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Atlatl 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Handheld weapons Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
War Club 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Sword 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Spear 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Polearm Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Dagger Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Battle Axe 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Animals used in warfare Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Horse 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Elephant 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Donkey Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Dog Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Camel 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Camel 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Armor Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Wood Bark Etc Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Shield 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Scaled Armor 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Plate Armor 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Limb Protection 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Leather Cloth 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Laminar Armor 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Helmet 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Chainmail 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Breastplate 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Naval technology Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Specialized Military Vessel 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Small Vessels Canoes Etc Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service Unknown Suspected 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)
Religion Variables
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in This Life 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Moralizing Enforcement is Certain 205 CE  487 CE
Loading...
Human Sacrifice Sasanid Empire I (ir_sassanid_emp_1)
Variable Coded Value / Certainty Tags Year(s) See More
Instability Data
Power Transitions