The Achaemenid Empire, extending from Thrace to India, is considered the first world empire. Boasting many achievements like a postal system, standardized money, and a highway, their successes are largely due to their leaders, Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great. Unlike many other rulers in his time, Cyrus held respect for human rights, different cultures and religions, and diversity in his people while Darius exhibited talent for organization and leadership. The Median, Lydian, Babylonian, and Egyptian empires ruled the east during 559 B.C. Cyrus II or “the Great” was the son of Kambujiya I and Princess Mandana, daughter of Astyages the King of Media. According to legend, the King had a dream that his daughter peed so much that she flooded
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He took battle strategies from the Assyrians and revised them to work with his army. Using the decimal system, Cyrus efficiently broke up a group of a thousand men into hundreds and then tens. This system was even more useful when dealing with ten thousand or a hundred thousand men. The most advanced soldiers were the bodyguards of Cyrus, also called the “Immortals.” Cyrus made small changes that increased effectivity; he added more archers behind shields to create a thicker wall of arrows. Moreover, he used and improved war chariots, attaching points to the wheels and making the base out of stronger materials. His army required all men, commoners and nobles, to enlist in army service, some staying until their fifties by choice. For organizational purposes, Cyrus divided his empire into satrapies, or pieces of land with a similar culture, with its own rulers and troops, but they all were under his rule. Similar to the system of government now, Cyrus had checks to keep each section of the satrap in place. The ruler was able to command the army but his workers and military leaders belonged to Cyrus. To further ensure each satrap was loyal, Cyrus had a complicated network of spies in each area (Nardo …show more content…
He separated the kingdom into 20 satrapies ruled by only his closest friends or family. While Cyrus entrusted satrap rulers with military power, Darius took that away, knowing too much power could affect the trustworthiness of his regents. (Nardo 43). He established laws and court systems separated into familial and governmental affairs. Additionally, he delved into education in the Persian Empire, asking his finest astronomers and mathematicians to recreate the calendar. The creation of the royal road can be credited to Darius in an attempt to unify the large empire. Inns protected by walls were even built at precise 15 mile intervals for 1,678 miles, so passer-byers could stop for a meal. There were rooms for ordinary travelers and nobles and military officials as well. The highway allowed for easy communication, trade, and travel of troops. In case of war, the road would be able to provide soldiers with necessary materials along the way. Another idea Darius implemented was a mail delivery system. Horses were bred for speed and riders were specially trained. Furthermore, letters that would normally take three months for delivery only took a week (Farrokh 63-64). Other architectural achievements from Darius include building a canal between the Nile and Red sea and construction Egyptian god temples. Darius chose Susa as his
He took battle strategies from the Assyrians and revised them to work with his army. Using the decimal system, Cyrus efficiently broke up a group of a thousand men into hundreds and then tens. This system was even more useful when dealing with ten thousand or a hundred thousand men. The most advanced soldiers were the bodyguards of Cyrus, also called the “Immortals.” Cyrus made small changes that increased effectivity; he added more archers behind shields to create a thicker wall of arrows. Moreover, he used and improved war chariots, attaching points to the wheels and making the base out of stronger materials. His army required all men, commoners and nobles, to enlist in army service, some staying until their fifties by choice. For organizational purposes, Cyrus divided his empire into satrapies, or pieces of land with a similar culture, with its own rulers and troops, but they all were under his rule. Similar to the system of government now, Cyrus had checks to keep each section of the satrap in place. The ruler was able to command the army but his workers and military leaders belonged to Cyrus. To further ensure each satrap was loyal, Cyrus had a complicated network of spies in each area (Nardo …show more content…
He separated the kingdom into 20 satrapies ruled by only his closest friends or family. While Cyrus entrusted satrap rulers with military power, Darius took that away, knowing too much power could affect the trustworthiness of his regents. (Nardo 43). He established laws and court systems separated into familial and governmental affairs. Additionally, he delved into education in the Persian Empire, asking his finest astronomers and mathematicians to recreate the calendar. The creation of the royal road can be credited to Darius in an attempt to unify the large empire. Inns protected by walls were even built at precise 15 mile intervals for 1,678 miles, so passer-byers could stop for a meal. There were rooms for ordinary travelers and nobles and military officials as well. The highway allowed for easy communication, trade, and travel of troops. In case of war, the road would be able to provide soldiers with necessary materials along the way. Another idea Darius implemented was a mail delivery system. Horses were bred for speed and riders were specially trained. Furthermore, letters that would normally take three months for delivery only took a week (Farrokh 63-64). Other architectural achievements from Darius include building a canal between the Nile and Red sea and construction Egyptian god temples. Darius chose Susa as his