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The Aryans were nomadic people who migrated into India through the Kyber Pass around 1500 B.C.  The language in ancient Persia was Avestan and in Northern India it was Sanskrit.  All major European and Indian languages are considered related to it.  Hebrew and Arabic are not.

The Aryans were nomadic people who migrated into India through the Kyber Pass around 1500 B.C.  The language in ancient Persia was Avestan and in Northern India it was Sanskrit.  All major European and Indian languages are considered related to it.  Hebrew and Arabic are not.

'''Fast-forward to the 20th century''': The Nazis, as ignorant as they were, used the term "Aryans" to refer to Nordic people, and as a result of the incorrect Nazi usage the term "Aryan" today is misleadingly used to describe blond and blue-eyed people descended from Northern Europe rather than from the Persian region (the region between India and Europe, or Indo-European).  After Darwin's theory of evolution became popular in England and Germany around 1900, racists claimed that the Aryans (Nordics) were superior to everyone else.  One of the worst of these Darwinian racists was the Englishman Houston Stewart Chamberlain, who insisted that Aryans were responsible for all of human progress, and that Jewish people were inferior because they did not descend from the Aryans (note, by the way, that Hebrew did not descend from the Aryan language).  

'''Fast-forward to the 20th century''': The Nazis, as ignorant as they were, used the term "Aryans" to refer to Nordic people, and as a result of the incorrect Nazi usage the term "Aryan" today is misleadingly used to describe blond and blue-eyed people descended from Northern Europe rather than from the Persian region (the region between India and Europe, or Indo-European).  After Darwin's theory of evolution became popular in England and Germany around 1900, racists claimed that the Aryans (Nordics) were superior to everyone else.  One of the worst of these Darwinian racists was the Englishman Houston Stewart Chamberlain, who insisted that Aryans were responsible for all of human progress, and that Jewish people were somehow inferior because they did not descend from the Aryans (note, by the way, that Hebrew did not descend from the Aryan language).  

Let's return back to the ancient world.  The glory days of the Persian empire were from 550 to 331 B.C., and were discussed in detail earlier in this lecture.  The Old Testament mentions Persia frequently during this time period.  When the Persians took over Babylon, Daniel served under Cyrus and Darius (who threw him into the lion's den).  The Persians are also seen in the Bible in the story of Esther, when King Xerxes I held what might be called a "Miss Persia" beauty contest.  Esther, a beautiful Jewish girl, won the contest and would go on to save her people because of her remarkable courage.  It is the Book of Esther that first refers to the Hebrew people as "Jewish", and it was written around 300 B.C.

Let's return back to the ancient world.  The glory days of the Persian empire were from 550 to 331 B.C., and were discussed in detail earlier in this lecture.  The Old Testament mentions Persia frequently during this time period.  When the Persians took over Babylon, Daniel served under Cyrus and Darius (who threw him into the lion's den).  The Persians are also seen in the Bible in the story of Esther, when King Xerxes I held what might be called a "Miss Persia" beauty contest.  Esther, a beautiful Jewish girl, won the contest and would go on to save her people because of her remarkable courage.  It is the Book of Esther that first refers to the Hebrew people as "Jewish", and it was written around 300 B.C.

The Persians controlled a vast amount of territory, including most of the Middle East, Turkey and a portion of Northern Africa -- primarily under Cyrus the Great.  Accordingly, the Persian empire was one of the first great empires of the world.  They were unstoppable and greatly feared until Alexander the Great conquered them and far more.

The Persians controlled a vast amount of territory, including most of the Middle East, Turkey and a portion of Northern Africa -- primarily under Cyrus the Great.  Accordingly, the Persian empire was one of the first great empires of the world.  They were unstoppable and greatly feared until Alexander the Great conquered them, and far more.

After Alexander the Great died, the Parthians (based in modern-day Iran) tried unsuccessfully to reestablish the Persian empire.  But the past greatness of the Persian empire was never achieved again.  They could not withstand the Roman army, which conquered it in A.D. 226.   

After Alexander the Great died, the Parthians (based in modern-day Iran) tried unsuccessfully to reestablish the Persian empire.  But the past greatness of the Persian empire was never achieved again.  They could not withstand the Roman army, which conquered it in A.D. 226.   

Afterward, a Persian noble named Ardashir seized power by killing the Parthian king, and established the Sassanid empire along with the official state religion of Zoroastrianism, a polytheistic religion that had a creator (Ahuramazda) and a sun-god (Mithra).  This religion was essentially limited to Persians.  It made no attempt to convert others and it tolerated other religions in the region, including Judaism.  Its greatest king was Shapure II (A.D. 309-379), who beat back the weakening Romans and also extended Persian power towards China.  This empire remained in control of Persia until Muslims took control of the region in A.D. 651.

Afterward, a Persian noble named Ardashir seized power by killing the Parthian king, and established the Sassanid empire along with the official state religion of Zoroastrianism, a polytheistic religion that had a creator (Ahuramazda) and a sun-god (Mithra).  This religion was essentially limited to Persians.  The Sassanid empire made no attempt to convert others and it tolerated other religions in the region, including Judaism.  Its greatest king was Shapure II (A.D. 309-379), who beat back the weakening Romans and also extended Persian power towards China.  This empire remained in control of Persia until Muslims took control of the region in A.D. 651.

Today Persia is called "Iran", and it is 99% Muslim.  There are concerns that it is developing nuclear weapons.

Today Persia is called "Iran", and it is 99% Muslim.  There are concerns that it is developing nuclear weapons now.

=== The Celts ===

=== The Celts ===