Civilizations underwent a transformation during the second wave of civilization. Prior to this period, governments focused more on securing their land and building their nation from within. However, civilizations during the second wave began to venture beyond their land, conquering neighboring nations for resources and or power. We can say that this is the time that the idea of empires took shape. While this age of empire building helped connect people of varying ethnicities and cultures, rulers had to use tactics such as violence, manipulation, and strict control of the law in order to maintain order in these ever growing nations.
The Persian empire under the Achaemenid dynasty was one of the largest and most diverse nations to exist during …show more content…
From 522 B.C.E to 486 B.C.E Darius continued the trend of victory within the empire, winning countless battles and conquering many nations. Because Darius’ success was so grand, he commissioned a monument to be made in his honor. (Behistun Inscription p.30) Workers carved the inscription in western Iran and provided it in Elamite, the language of chancellery in Persia, along with a few of the languages from the nations he conquered. Accompanying the inscription was a 2D sculpture depicting a scene of Darius ruling over enslaved rebels while god Ahura Mazda looked on from heaven. The most significant part of this monument was the way Darius described his ruling and justification for it. Throughout the inscription Darius mentioned Ahura Mazda as the source of his power and greatness. Phrases such as “by the grace of Ahura Mazda am I King,” “by the grace of Ahura Mazda they became subject to me,” and “by the grace of Ahura Mazda I always acted.” (Behistun Inscription p.32) These three lines show divine intervention, approval, and command. Ahura Mazda saw that Darius was worthy of protection and showed favor to him. This relationship showed that Darius had a divine right to rule over the people in Persia. Drawing from the chance that this god was a part of the major religion in the empire we can presume that subjects then took this claim as fact. Darius’ mention of this god can be seen as reverence and manipulation. By using the god as justification for his actions, Darius could make the people believe it was a divine
The Persian empire under the Achaemenid dynasty was one of the largest and most diverse nations to exist during …show more content…
From 522 B.C.E to 486 B.C.E Darius continued the trend of victory within the empire, winning countless battles and conquering many nations. Because Darius’ success was so grand, he commissioned a monument to be made in his honor. (Behistun Inscription p.30) Workers carved the inscription in western Iran and provided it in Elamite, the language of chancellery in Persia, along with a few of the languages from the nations he conquered. Accompanying the inscription was a 2D sculpture depicting a scene of Darius ruling over enslaved rebels while god Ahura Mazda looked on from heaven. The most significant part of this monument was the way Darius described his ruling and justification for it. Throughout the inscription Darius mentioned Ahura Mazda as the source of his power and greatness. Phrases such as “by the grace of Ahura Mazda am I King,” “by the grace of Ahura Mazda they became subject to me,” and “by the grace of Ahura Mazda I always acted.” (Behistun Inscription p.32) These three lines show divine intervention, approval, and command. Ahura Mazda saw that Darius was worthy of protection and showed favor to him. This relationship showed that Darius had a divine right to rule over the people in Persia. Drawing from the chance that this god was a part of the major religion in the empire we can presume that subjects then took this claim as fact. Darius’ mention of this god can be seen as reverence and manipulation. By using the god as justification for his actions, Darius could make the people believe it was a divine