Cyrus the Great The Beginning of the Persian Empire The Persians were part of a larger migratory group called the Iranians, who moved into modern Iran from southern Russia and central Europe around 1000 B.C.E. The Persians and other Iranian groups eventually formed tribal societies and began expanding their rule over local nomadic tribes. In 550 B.C.E. Cyrus the Great, the leader of the Persians, conquered the Medes and united the Iranian people under one ruler for the first time. Cyrus became the first king of the Persian Empire and went on to establish one of the largest empires in world. Accomplishments of Cyrus the Great Cyrus the Benevolent Conqueror After unifying the Persians under one ruler, Cyrus and his army set out to win control of the western portion of Iran. The section of Iran included several trade routes that crossed Iran and continued through Anatolia (modern western Turkey). In addition, Cyrus conquered the nomadic tribes who lived in the eastern section of Iran. With the perimeters of his territory secure and the income from the trade routes that he now controlled in western Iran, Cyrus and his generals expanded farther and farther into the lands that neighbored Persia. Cyrus and his generals quickly conquered the kingdom of Lydia and Greek cities along the coast of Anatolia, thus gaining access to sea ports on the Mediterranean. Unlike many conquerors, Cyrus was a gentle invader. When he conquered the kingdom of Lydia, Cyrus spared the life of the king, Croesus, and Croesus became one of Cyrus most valued friends and advisers. Cyrus developed a reputation as a kind and merciful ruler to those that he conquered. One of the major territories conquered by Cyrus was the Babylonian kingdom. The Babylonians captured the city of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E. and forced all the Jewish inhabitants into exile in Babylon. This period of time is called the Babylonian Captivity. When the Jews learned that Cyrus and his army were sweeping towards the kingdom of Babylon, they welcomed them as liberators and assisted Cyrus army in overthrowing the Babylonians. In 538 B.C.E. Cyrus permitted approximately forty thousand Jewish exiles to return to their homes in Jerusalem and ended the Babylonian Captivity. Once they had returned to their homeland, Cyrus used the funds he had acquired in conquering Babylon to rebuild the sacred temple of the Jewish people. After conquering the Babylonians, Cyrus issued one of the worlds first human rights charters. A cylinder containing this charter was discovered in 1878 during an excavation of ancient Babylon. In this charter, Cyrus promised to treat all the inhabitants of Babylon and the other kingdoms he conquered with respect. He swore that he would allow all inhabitants of his empire to practice their own religious and social customs without persecution. Cyrus also promised to punish anyone who acted cruelly to the religious and social minorities of his kingdom. Cyrus forbade the seizure of farmers lands and properties and made slavery of any kind illegal. Cyrus commitment to fair and equitable treatment of his people is exemplary by modern standards and was unique during his time period. Cyrus the Administrator In addition to his fair treatment of conquered people, Cyrus also helped to establish one of the most efficient government bureaucracies in the Ancient World. Cyrus appointed satraps or governors in each territory that he conquered. The satraps were responsible for reporting regularly to Cyrus and for governing the area according to Cyrus directions. Letters and news travelled quickly in the Persian Empire because Cyrus built and maintained a series of roads, called the Royal Roads. Couriers travelled from one end of the empire to the other in a matter of days or weeks, instead of months because of the well maintained roads. With the assistance of the satraps, Cyrus was able to personally govern his vast empire and to maintain peace among his people. Cyrus Royal Roads also allowed the people of the Persian Empire to trade goods and natural resources across the Empire and with other neighboring kingdoms. The Greeks were particularly admiring of Cyrus and adopted Persian-style adornments and decorations during his reign. Cyrus Legacy Cyrus died in battle in 530 B.C.E. and was buried in an elaborate tomb in his capital city, Pasargadae. He had established an empire that stretched from Turkey to Oman. At the time it was the largest empire in the world. His son, Cambyses, continued his fathers legacy by expanding the Persian Empire into Egypt. His descendants ruled the Persian Empire until they were finally conquered by Alexander the Great in 330 B.C.E.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:43:34 +0000
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