[BtS] Civ of the Week: Sassanids 2016-10-05

Civ of the Week is a “project” aiming at bringing you a new, fresh, exotic, and most of all, random, civ every 1-2 weeks, from all corners of the globe, from the Vietnamese to the Mittanni to the Iraqis. Each civilization features full civilopedia text entires, 1-2 leaders with unique game and diplomatic attitudes (they're not simply a copy of another leader!), a UU, a UB, unique diplomacy music, and full graphics.

The purpose of Civ of the Week, then, is three-fold:

1. To bring you random civs that would probably not have been chosen as civilizations first of all, and to provide a new, more exotic, more interesting experience in choosing civilizations.

2. To promote more knowledge of lesser-known peoples, cultures, and histories.

3. Make more civs for the totally awesome Civ Gold mod.


Otherwise, then, enjoy!

[FONT=&quot]Leader:[FONT=&quot] Khosrau I (Philosophical, Financial)

UU: Azadan Noble (Replaces Horse Archer) (+2 strength, no withdrawal chance, +10 hammer cost)

UB: Caravanserai (Replaces Market) (+2 spy points)[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Starting Techs:[FONT=&quot] Mysticism, Agriculture[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Credits:[FONT=&quot] bakuel (unit), chamaedrys (building), fk2006 and NikNaks (button)[/FONT][/FONT]



[FONT=&quot]Description: [FONT=&quot]The Sassanids ruled Iran between c. 200 CE – c. 600 CE. During these four centuries, ancient Persia experienced a golden age rivaling that of the ancient Achaemenid Empire in terms of military strength, economic prosperity, and cultural sophistication. For many modern-day Iranians, it is considered the greatest age in Persian history.[/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Sassanid dynasty began as one of many feudal lords in the Parthian Empire, which had ruled much of Iran since the second century BCE. Fed up with rule by the foreign, once nomadic Parthians, the Sassanids rose in revolt and took control of all Iran.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Almost immediately, the Sassanids continued the Roman-Persian conflict; fighting all over Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Arabia, the Roman (later Byzantine) and Sassanid Empires would fight almost continuously for over four centuries to little fruition. In essence, the conflict between the Sassanids and the Romans/Byzantines was essentially an ancient-era Cold War; many times, the Sassanids and Romans/Byzantines would attempt to influence and control satellite states throughout Northern and Eastern Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia to their advantage. No side gained any significant success, even during the reigns of the great Emperors Justinian and Khosrau I (of Byzantium and Sassanid Persia respectively); it was only until the reign of Khosrau I’s grandson, Khosrau II, did the Sassanids begin to turn the tide. Taking advantage of internal strife within the Byzantine Empire, the Sassanids invaded and occupied the Levant, Egypt, and Anatolia. However, about a decade or two later, the Byzantine emperor Heraclius repelled the Sassanids and launched a bold invasion into the heart of the Sassanid Empire, eventually forcing the Sassanids to capitulate. Despite the Byzantine “victory”, both sides were so exhausted by centuries of war that they were unable to repel the Islamic Arab invasions that followed. The Arabs completely destroyed the Sassanid Empire, and the last Sassanid Shah, Yazdgerd III, was killed while fleeing in 651 CE. Yazdgerd’s descendants and other Persian nobles fled to Central Asia, and most particularly to Tang China, where Yazdgerd’s son and grandson served as generals.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The Sassanid dynasty witnessed a flowering of culture in Persia. Architecture, literature, art, and so forth blossomed; despite being overrun by the Islamic invasion, the Sassanid dynasty would later have penetrating and great influence on Islamic culture. It was also during the Sassanid dynasty that the Silk Road flourished, with trade flowing in from the far reaches of the world from China all the way to Rome. They had a great influence on many civilizations, including their rivals Rome, Byzantium, and China, as well as other civilizations such as India, Arabia, and Western Europe.[/FONT]