Ahuramazda the chief Iranian god who was the creator and benefactor of all living creatures; unlike Yahweh, he was not a lone god. (p. 46)






Baal an ancient Semitic fertility god represented as a golden calf. (p. 37)

Babylonian captivity a period of time in 587 B.C. when the survivors of a Babylonian attack on the southern kingdom of Judah were sent into exile in Babylonia. (p. 38)






Covenant a formal agreement between Yahweh and the Hebrew people - if the Hebrews worshiped Yahweh as their only god, he would consider them his chosen people and protect them from their enemies. (p. 38)






Hapiru a name meaning homeless, independent nomads, it represents a group of people that were partially made up by Hebrews. (p. 36)






Magi a priestly class developed among the Medes to officiate at sacrifices, chant prayers to the gods, and tend the scared flame. (p. 46)






nomads homeless independent people who lead roaming lives, always in search of pasturage for their flocks. (p. 36)






Royal Road the main highway created by the Persians; it spanned 1,677 miles from Greece to Iran. (p. 48)






satrap a governor who was directly responsible to the king and was usually taken from the Median and Persian nobility to govern the satrapy. (p. 47)






Talmud a later religious work composed during the period between A.D. 70 and A.D. 636 that records civil and ceremonial law and Jewish legend. (p. 40)

Torah Mosaic law or the first five books of the Bible. (pp. 39-40)






world empire all of the oldest and most honored kingdoms and peoples of the ancient Near East that were united under the Persian political organization. (p. 47)






Yahweh a god, who in Medieval Latin became "Jehovah", that appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai and made a covenant with the Hebrews. (p. 38)