Sassanid Empire: Prosperity of Iran
Crystal, Ellie. Faravahar Persepolis. 500 bce. Photograph. Persepolis. Crystalinks. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2013.
After the fall of Seleucid Empire, 226 AD was probably another critical juncture that pinpointed the importance in Persian region (Landering). It was the date when Persians regained sovereignty to rule their region. The idea of sovereignty seems to be especially important to a region in Persia because it was an area often characterized by conflict and internal struggles of power. In 226 AD, Ardashir the first, Persian regional king, annihilated Parthian troops in the Battle of Hormuz and established Sassanid Empire (“History of Iran”). Such establishment holds great importance due to connection to foundation of Zoroastrianism as a national religion. Although successors of the Sassanid Empire abolished Zoroastrianism as the official religion and gave freedom of Christianity, Zoroastrian belief influenced Persian society’s practice of various rituals that still inherited through generations. Therefore, the Sassanid Empire was an important civilization that formed many of the traditions of Iran and allows Iranians to trace their cultural backgrounds.