THE SELEUCID EMPIRE

Seleucus came to power when Alexander the Great died. Out of all the chief generals fighting for the position he was the victor.

He was a tyrant, and many fought against him because he wasn't a Persian.

The empire was slowly eaten away by the Parthians, but the Romans took over and it became a centralized government even though the Parthians were a decentralized government.

UPSIDES OF SELEUCID EMPIRE

• Founded new cities
• Kept the systems of adminstration the same as the past enpire
• Kept taxation the same as before
• Imperial roads and postal service stayed too

THE PARTHIAN EMPIRE

CTESIPHON

PARTHIANS

• Skilled warriors from Iran
• Kept customs from nomadic lifestyle
• Turned to agriculture
• Had an effective defense against raiders
• Bred larger and stronger horses

This empire conquered many parts of Mesopotamia. Viewed themselves as enemies to the Seleucids and were trying to restore rule in the Persian tradition.

Decentralized government, until they were taken over by the Romans and brought down by internal rebellion.