<P><EM>List of figures</EM></P><P><EM>List of tables</EM></P><P><EM>Foreword</EM></P><P><EM>Glossary of historic place names</EM> </P><P></P><P><STRONG>I. The Parthian Empire: A First Approach</STRONG></P><P><STRONG></STRONG></P><P><STRONG>II. History of the Great Empires in Iran</STRONG></P><P><STRONG></STRONG></P><P><STRONG>III. History of the Parthian Empire</STRONG></P><P>III. 1. Phase 1: The development from a Seleucid vassal state to the Parthian Empire: from Arsaces I to Phraates I (c. 247-171 BC)</P><P>III. 2. Phase 2: Expansion of the Parthian Empire: from Mithradates I to Darius of Media Atropatene (c. 171-70 BC) </P><P>III. 3. Phase 3: Parthia as Great Power: from Phraates III to Vonones II (c. 70 BC
c. 51 AD)</P><P>III. 4. Phase 4: Phases of stability
inner turmoil
decline of the Parthian Empire: from Vologases I (ca. 51
79 AD) to Artabanus IV (c. 216
224 AD)</P><P>III. 5. Ardashir I and the newly founded Sasanian Empire</P><P>III. 6. The end of the Parthian Empire
reasons for the downfall</P><P></P><P><STRONG>IV. The Structure of the Parthian Empire</STRONG> </P><P>IV. 1. The king</P><P>IV. 2. The nobility</P><P>IV. 3. The Parthian army
standing army
Parthian Shot</P><P>IV. 4. Administrative structure of the Empire</P><P>IV. 5. Parthian Queens and marriage policy</P><P></P><P><STRONG>V. Vassal States and Kingdoms under Parthian Influence</STRONG></P><P><STRONG></STRONG></P><P><STRONG>VI. The Parthian Empire and the Peoples of Eurasia</STRONG></P><P><STRONG></STRONG></P><P><STRONG>VII. Cities and Architecture in the Parthian Empire</STRONG></P><P>VII. 1. Structure and architecture of the Cities</P><P>VII. 2. Cities in the homeland of the Parthians and in Iran</P><P>VII. 3. Cities in Syria and Mesopotamia</P><P></P><P><STRONG>VIII. Trade and Business in the Parthian Empire</STRONG></P><P><STRONG></STRONG></P><P><STRONG>IX. Insights into Social Life in Parthia</STRONG></P><P><STRONG></STRONG></P><P><STRONG>X. Parthian Art: Art in the Arsacid Kingdom</STRONG></P><P><STRONG></STRONG></P><P><STRONG>XI. The Parthian Empire and its Religions</STRONG> </P><P>XI. 1. General information to Zoroastrianism and the Avesta</P><P>XI. 2. Iconography of Parthian coins
references to the Zoroastrian faith</P><P>XI. 3. Manichaeism
religion with Parthian origins</P><P>XI. 4. Mithraism</P><P>XI. 5. Judaism in Parthia</P><P>XI. 6. Christianity in Parthia: the proselytizing by the Apostle Thomas</P><P></P><P><EM>Bibliography</EM></P><P><EM></EM></P><P><EM>Recommended websites</EM></P>