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footage of some of our greatest rulers |
Some history on Persia...
In 539 B.C.E, King Cyrus, the current ruler of the Persian Empire at that time, looked to expand the empire across the land in every direction. He began by setting forth and conquering Babylon. Contrary to other rulers, such as the Assyrian kings, Cyrus was known for his clemency more than his barbarity. For instance, he permitted the Hebrew people to return to Jerusalem, after being captive of the Babylonians for over 50 years. Not only did he allow them to dwell once again in their holy city, he recovered their sacred items that had been stolen from them as well as agreeing to let them rebuild their capital and temple. Cyrus also allowed the Hebrews to continue with their own beliefs rather than forcing them to the Persian religion, Zoroastrianism. The Jewish prophet, Isaiah, called Cyrus "God's Shepherd," and remarked that "God would go before him and level the mountains."
This equity did not end with the Hebrew people, Cyrus addressed every new group he encountered as he did the previous one. He work along side local rulers and respected and occasionally adopted local traditions and religious practices. The Persian's goal was to increase trade and economy thought their growing kingdom, so instead of demolishing local economy, they established participation and respect with their new subjects as well as creating an official currency of coins, and enforced universal laws including 20% tax on all manufacturing and agriculture. Before hand, however, the Persians had not payed taxes.
The Persian Empire is also referred to, however less so, as the Achaemenid Empire, and then became the Medo-Persian Empire after greatly expanding from Africa all the way into central Asia and taking over the Median Empire, which had be greatly influential as well.
This equity did not end with the Hebrew people, Cyrus addressed every new group he encountered as he did the previous one. He work along side local rulers and respected and occasionally adopted local traditions and religious practices. The Persian's goal was to increase trade and economy thought their growing kingdom, so instead of demolishing local economy, they established participation and respect with their new subjects as well as creating an official currency of coins, and enforced universal laws including 20% tax on all manufacturing and agriculture. Before hand, however, the Persians had not payed taxes.
The Persian Empire is also referred to, however less so, as the Achaemenid Empire, and then became the Medo-Persian Empire after greatly expanding from Africa all the way into central Asia and taking over the Median Empire, which had be greatly influential as well.