This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the history and culture of the Parthian Empire, which existed for almost 500 years from 247 BC to 224 AD.
The Parthians were Rome’s great opponents in the east, but comparatively little is known about them. The Parthians focuses on the rise, expansion, flowering and decline of the Parthian Empire and covers both the wars with the Romans in the west and the nomads in the east. Sources include the small amount from the Empire itself, as well as those from outside the Parthian world, such as Greek, Roman and Chinese documents. Ellerbrock also explores the Parthian military, social history, religions, art, architecture and numismatics, all supported by a great number of images and maps.
The Parthians is an invaluable resource for those studying the Ancient Near East during the period of the Parthian Empire, as well as for more general readers interested in this era.
List of figures
List of tables
Foreword
Glossary of historic place names
I. The Parthian Empire: A First Approach
II. History of the Great Empires in Iran
III. History of the Parthian Empire
III.1. Phase 1: The development from a Seleucid vassal state to the Parthian Empire: from Arsaces I to Phraates I (c. 247-171 BC)
III.2. Phase 2: Expansion of the Parthian Empire: from Mithradates I to Darius of Media Atropatene (c. 171-70 BC)
III.3. Phase 3: Parthia as Great Power: from Phraates III to Vonones II (c. 70 BC – c. 51 AD)
III.4. Phase 4: Phases of stability – inner turmoil – decline of the Parthian Empire: from Vologases I (ca. 51 – 79 AD) to Artabanus IV (c. 216 – 224 AD)
III.5. Ardashir I and the newly founded Sasanian Empire
III.6. The end of the Parthian Empire - reasons for the downfall
IV. The Structure of the Parthian Empire
IV.1. The king
IV.2. The nobility
IV.3. The Parthian army – standing army - Parthian Shot
IV.4. Administrative structure of the Empire
IV.5. Parthian Queens and marriage policy
V. Vassal States and Kingdoms under Parthian Influence
VI. The Parthian Empire and the Peoples of Eurasia
VII. Cities and Architecture in the Parthian Empire
VII.1. Structure and architecture of the Cities
VII.2. Cities in the homeland of the Parthians and in Iran
VII.3. Cities in Syria and Mesopotamia
VIII. Trade and Business in the Parthian Empire
IX. Insights into Social Life in Parthia
X. Parthian Art: Art in the Arsacid Kingdom
XI. The Parthian Empire and its Religions
XI.1. General information to Zoroastrianism and the Avesta
XI.2. Iconography of Parthian coins - references to the Zoroastrian faith
XI.3. Manichaeism - religion with Parthian origins
XI.4. Mithraism
XI.5. Judaism in Parthia
XI.6. Christianity in Parthia: the proselytizing by the Apostle Thomas
Bibliography
Recommended websites
Biography
Uwe Ellerbrock has been studying the Parthian Empire for more than 30 years. His book Die Parther, written with archaeologist Sylvia Winkelmann, was published in 2012 (revised edition 2015).
"This book is a welcome introductory account of the society, culture, and impact of the traditionally much neglected and maligned Parthians in English. It does not address one common narrative or time period, but rather it addresses the entirety of the Parthians’ long history (middle third century BCE to early third century CE) and the evolution of their society from migrants on the Central Asian steppe to world imperialists... Ellerbrock has published an engaging and important work long overdue and much needed for an anglophone audience. This book will quickly become a leading reference for scholars and students interested in the society and culture of the Parthians. No doubt it will help create further awareness of the Parthians as a great and accomplished civilization and stimulate further debate about their place in world history." - Nikolaus Overtoom, Ancient History Bulletin
