WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS



THE SEVENTH MONARCHY


HISTORY OF THE SASSANIAN OR NEW PERSIAN EMPIRE.


[Illustration: MAP]




CHAPTER I.


_Condition of the Persians under the Successors of Alexander--under
the Arsacidce. Favor shown them by the latter--allowed to have Kings
of their own. Their Religion at first held in honor. Power of their
Priests. Gradual Change of Policy on the part of the Parthian Monarchs,
and final Oppression of the Magi. Causes which produced the Insurrection
of Artaxerxes._


"The Parthians had been barbarians; they had ruled over a nation