The Persian Empire

by John Manuel Cook

In meeting the long-standing need for a new and authoritative history of the Persian Empire, Professor Cook takes account of the most recent discoveries, including the clay tablets from Persepolis, and he attempts a modern critical approach to the historical issues.

After discussing the origins of the Medes and Persians and surveying the sources of Persian history from 550 to 330 B.C., Professor Cook describes the reigns of Cyrus the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I down to 480 B.C. The narrative of the last 150 years, culminating in the conquests of Alexander the Great, is taken up later in the book.

Intervening chapters provide background to the political events. Topics discussed are the armed forces and communications, the king and court, Persian religion, architecture and art, together with a long chapter covering conditions in the different parts of an empire that stretched from Turkestan and the Hindukush to Nubia. Special attention is paid to imperial organization and the infrastructure of rule within the provinces, and comparisons are frequently made with other oriental empire from Assyrian times to the present.

A valuable book for students, The Persian Empire is also intended for the general reader interested in the history and civilization of the ancient world.

Genres: History, Ancient History, Nonfiction, Middle East

275 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

John Manuel Cook was Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology at Bristol University from 1958 until his retirement in 1976. He was educated at Marlborough College and King's College, Cambridge, where he won winning the Sir William Browne Gold Medal for a Greek Ode and the Members' Prize for a Latin Essay. He taught at Edinburgh University from 1936 to 1946, first as Assistant to the Professor in Humanities and then as Lecturer in Classical Archaeology. During the Second World War he served with the Royal Scots and in the British Military Mission in Greece. After the war he took up the Directorship of the British School of Archaeology, a position in which he served until he took up a lectureship at Bristol University in 1954.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 4 out of 5]

While working on editing Jim DeVoto's book on Agesilaos II, Eurypontid king of Sparta, Jim was kind enough to loan me this book about the Persian Empire, essential for understanding Greek politics of the period. It was a good recommendation. Cook's text appeared to be thorough for its length and suitable for someone at my level of understanding. It also was quite readable, even amusing at times.

[Sherwin]

Well written, conclusive, with some grave mistakes...

[Bahman Bahman · Rating 2 out of 5]

برخورد غیرحرفه‌ای و دور از ادب مترجم محترم کتاب با عقاید نویسنده ای که کتابش را ترجمه کرده، آن قدر زننده بوده که ناشر هم ناچار شده در ابتدای کتاب متنی را به عنوان رفع مسئولیت خودش بیاورد. واقعا خواندن این پانویس های غیر حرفه ای ایشان آزاردهنده بود و از ارزش ترجمه شان می کاست

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Preparatory books for another Degree:

The book’s narrative begins with the upsurge of the Persians in the mid-6th century BCE under Cyrus the Great, offering perceptions into the geopolitical and cultural circumstances that allowed the creation of this vast empire. The author’s analysis of Cyrus’s conquests, including the overthrow of the Medes and the annexation of Babylon, highlights the Persian ruler’s political acumen and religious tolerance, which became hallmarks of Achaemenid governance. The book delves deeply into the administrative and cultural structures that underpinned the empire’s longevity. Cook masterfully elucidates the role of satrapies (provincial governance), the development of the Royal Road for communication, and the use of Aramaic as a lingua franca. He also examines Persian art, architecture, and religion, shedding light on the intricate interaction between native traditions and influences absorbed from conquered territories. One of the book’s fortes lies in its composed representation of Persian rulers. While Darius I emerges as a brilliant organizer and visionary, Xerxes’s reign is deliberated with a nuanced perception that avoids the caricatures often found in Greek sources. Cook’s use of both Persian and Greek accounts helps provide a more rounded understanding of the empire’s achievements and challenges. However, the book is not without its limitations. Since it was first published decades ago, some interpretations—particularly those based on Herodotus—may seem dated when compared to recent archaeological discoveries and modern historiography. Readers seeking the latest insights into Achaemenid studies might find Cook’s work somewhat lacking in contemporary perspectives. Generally, The Persian Empire is an enthralling and luxuriantly detailed account of a civilization that shaped the course of history. Cook’s ability to interlace political, cultural, and military history into a comprehensible narrative makes this book an appreciated adding to the library of anyone interested in the ancient world. While it may not encompass the most recent scholarship, it remains a cornerstone for understanding the grandeur and complexity of the Persian Empire. Therefore, to conclude, John Manuel Cook’s tome is a complete examination of one of history’s most influential civilizations. Published as part of the History of Civilization series, this work is both accessible to general readers and priceless to scholars seeking a detailed account of the Achaemenid Empire.

[Sarukhan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The creator of this book should be ashamed of this work. He attempts, in sad fashion and hilariously fails, to downplay the accomplishments of the greatest empire in history without bringing up the Greeks' despicable behaviors, such as their betrayal of one another or their acceptance of bribes …
It is impossible to take any of the author's claims seriously because his prejudice and limited viewpoint are clear throughout the entire book. It's disappointing that a book with such shoddy writing and research has gotten any attention at all.
This book is nothing compared to "From Cyrus to Alexander" by Pierre Briant, one of the greatest works about the Persian Empire.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones in an article on five books.com listed Cook’s ‘The Persian Empire’ as his top rated book on the Persians. LLJ himself has written a book on the Persians and is a professor of the field. This captured my interest, especially because LLJ mentions the scorn the book received due to the revolutionary thinking of the Persians at the time, based off of Said’s ‘Orientalism’. Cook, used terms like ‘Orient’, ‘Oriental’ and others that in the late 70s, and beyond have become taboo. Because of that, the book was written off. However if one reads the book, it’s clear that Cook has an affinity for the Persians and Iran itself, with LLJ stating that Cook had travelled there multiple times. I wanted to see for myself!

I don’t want to be one who bullet points everything I took away, as I think others who are interested should read it themselves to find out their own conclusions. Overall I agree with LLJ.. the book clearly demonstrates academic authority on the topic, is clearly written and weaves historical narrative in and out with archaeological findings, and sources from not only Greek but Egyptian, Babylonian and Persian as well. You really get a sense of the Persian Empire from a Persian lens. You learn about the history, culture, religion, art, architecture, administration, and even the geography, fertility and resources of the empire. You also see empire and court politics at play and you can see how the different Kings played out from Cyrus all the way down to Darius III and how Persians thought of their subjects, neighbors and of each other. Included in the original print by Shocken are pages of plates that you must have on hand as he references them many times. Apparently the 1994 edition is missing these so get the 1983 edition of the book so you don’t miss out on the wonderful plates, otherwise you’ll find yourself googling. My only slight critique is because Cook was a classicist from the 1950s writing later in his life, the reading is a bit harder to follow due to language used from more recent books of the past 20 years. Also for a read of about 230 pages, the text is densely put together on large pages which makes the reading of a 10 page chapter much longer than anticipated! Overall a great read, and I, like LLJ would say this book needs to be republished so it can have its due!

[David A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the rise and fall of the Persian Empire, spanning from its origins in the sixth century BCE to its eventual downfall at the hands of Alexander the Great. Cook draws on a wide range of ancient documents and artifacts, including Persian inscriptions, Greek and Roman texts, and archaeological findings, to paint a vivid picture of life in the empire. He was really one of the great authorities in the field, so you can't get a better scholarly account than his.

Unfortunately, this book came out around the time Said published Orientalism, so it got denounced as an Orientalist work -- despite Cook's tremendous appreciation for Persian culture and his top-notch scholarship.

This book is one of the best places to start learning about the Achaemenids.