#4e - Religion Review: Zoroastrianism

Tell about the history of Zoroastrianism.

by Sam Green

Begun by the prophet Zoroaster, Zoroastrianism began in ancient Iran 3500 years ago. For about 1000 years, it was the main religion of Persia, which is now modern Iran, from 600 BCE to 650 BCE; now, it is one of the world's smallest religions, having only around 190000 followers today. Cyrus the Great was the first Zoroaster to lead Persia after taking control of western Persia. He, along with his successor, showed much religious tolerance for other faiths. Later on, Persia is dominated by Alexander the Great's army, and many of their religious leaders and texts were destroyed. The Sassanians rose up from the Greek rule in 224 CE, basing the rule of the empire of Zoroastrianism.  Eventually, that rule ended at the hands of Islams and their conquests of the 7th century.