Between the Testaments - The Persian Period (thing)

{Old Testament History}

Between the Testaments - The Persian Period
The time between the close of Old Testament history and the beginning of the New Testament period has often been called "the four hundred silent years." To the historian, however, these centuries were anything but silent, and they seem to become more vocal with each passing decade.

To the student of ancient history, names like Cyrus, Darius, and Alexander the Great make this period one of paramount importance. The Jew notes during these centuries the development of synagogue worship, the successful Maccabean revolt, and the emergence of those parties within Judaism which have set the pattern for Jewish life and thought during the past two millennia.

The Christian looks upon the Old Testament as preparatory, looking toward the fulfillment of its hopes and promises in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is interested in the history of the centuries preceding the coming of Christ, for he sees in them a preparation for the advent, and a progress toward that period of history termed "the fulness of time" (Galatians 4:4).

OUTLINE:
- Cyrus and the Rise of the Empire
- Cambyses and the Conquest of Egypt
- Darius and the Reorganization of the Empire
- Xerxes I and the Attempted Conquest of Greece
- Artaxerxes I and the Loss of Persian Prestige
- The Latter Achemenians, Approaching the End
- The Problems and Progress of the Jews

CHRONOLOGY:

  612    Nineveh destroyed by Medes and Babylonians.
  587    Jerusalem destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.
  559    Cyrus inherits kingdom of Anshan, tributary to the Medes.
  549    Cyrus of Anshan conquers Astyages, the Mede.
  539    Babylon falls to Cyrus.
         End of Neo-Babylonian Empire.
530-522  Cambyses succeeds Cyrus.
         Conquest of Egypt.
522-486  Darius I ruler of the Persian Empire.
  515    Completion of Second Temple in Jerusalem.
486-465  Xerxes I attempts the conquest of Greece.
         Time of Esther.
  480    Greek naval victory at Salamis.
         Xerxes flees.
464-424  Artaxerxes I rules Persia.
         Age of Nehemiah.

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{Old Testament History}
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