Short Persian Empire - Archaeological Evidence From Peter James' Book "Centuries Of Darkness"

I have shown in this series of articles that there areIf the Fourth Day Biblical Chronology is the correct
several pieces of evidence that the Persian Empiremodel this lack of archaeological findings is easily
did not last the 200 years proposed by historians butexplained. Persia was only present from 352 B.C. to
only 21 years as described in the Old Testament. This331 B.C. so there should only be about either 21 years
is an idea I presented in detail in my book, Theof artifacts present. If you believe the Conventional
Fourth Day: Why the Bible is Historically Accurate. MyChronology there would have been 207 years
article, "Old Testament History Revised-Jeremiah's(539-332 B.C.) to indicate the presence of the
Eclipse" provides astronomical evidence from the BiblePersians. The Persians were just not there for much
for this idea and my article, "Old Testament Historyof the period in question. Peter James states that
Revised-The 390 Days of Ezekiel" provides evidenceinformation is lacking on many levels. A Persian strata
from a famous prophecy from the biblical book ofis difficult to see and few architectural remains are
Ezekiel for this idea. This article providespresent. Those strata that are present are of the
archaeological support for a "short" Persian Empiretimeframe after 450 BC (there is almost no evidence
based on information described in Peter James' book,of finds prior to this period). According to Peter
Centuries of Darkness.James other archaeologists have lamented the fact
Archaeological Findings of the Babylonian and Persianthat to be such a relative recent timeframe in history
Empiresthere is surprisingly few finds for this period. (page
Recall that earlier in this book I proposed that the170, Centuries of Darkness). All these observations
Babylonian Empire's reign over Judah occurred aboutjust enforce the observation that the Persian Empire
180 years later than the Conventional Biblicalwas a short-lived event in the history of Judah. Peter
Chronology dating. The Conventional BiblicalJames doesn't have much better news about the
Chronology dates the Babylonian captivity of JudahJewish Exile to Babylon. James paints a bleak picture
as 585 B.C. while the Fourth Day Biblical Chronologyfor archaeological findings in the timeframe 587-539
places it in 401 B.C. If the Fourth Day Chronology isBC that represents the Babylonian Conquest. More
accurate shouldn't it be reflected in the archeology?than one hundred years of Biblical history is barely
What about Judah's migration from Persia inevident in archaeological evidence. Peter James poses
accordance of the edict by Cyrus II to rebuild thethe question: does the time period from 587-450 BC
Temple in Jerusalem? According to the Conventionalin Palestine represent some kind of dark period in
Biblical Chronology this would have occurred in 539Israelite and Babylonian history? (Centuries of
B.C. however the Fourth Day Biblical ChronologyDarkness, pages 170-171). Indeed not. Since,
dates this event in 350 B.C. Let's allow Peter James'according to Fourth Day Biblical Chronology, the
book settle the matter. According to the BiblicalBabylonians and the Persians did not show up in the
record during the reign of King Cyrus the Persian itlives of Judah until after 450 B.C. there is certainly no
was a very active time in Israel. Those that acquiredreason to believe in a 'Dark Age' in Palestine. The
wealth in the Babylonian and Persian reigns of Babylonevidence speaks for itself, the Babylonians and the
returned home. The land was resettled, the TemplePersians were just not there from 587 B.C. to 450
rebuilt and walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt. Despite allB.C. They were not there because the Persian Empire
this activity Peter James records that there wereonly lasted twenty one years, not the more than
few findings for the 539-332 BC timeframe in the200 years that the conventional chronology model
region. (Centuries of Darkness, page 170)claims.