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What we today call the Middle East was in the Sixth Century B.C.E dominated by Mesopotamian kingdoms, and Egyptians. However, the Persian Empire was beginning to form with little notice from the dominant societies(Bentley, 132). Originating in the land that is now Iran, the Persian Empire was able to absorb territories and peoples through military strength, tolerance, and evolutionary socioeconomics. A series of great leaders would eventually expand the empire as far as the Indus River, Caucasus Mountains, east Mediterranean sea, and the Nile River (Map 7.1, Bentley, 133). The Persian Empire’s progressive bureaucratic policies, trade networks and philosophy continued to influence societies and can still be seen today. (Eyewitness, Bentley, 131).
If the development of the Persian Empire initially went unnoticed, it was because their beginnings were unremarkable. The Persian “Empire” consisted of bickering indo-european tribes until they were united by Cyrus, a warrior from the mountains. He was the founder of the Achaemenid Dynasty, the first of the three persian dynasties(Bentley, 132-133). But there would have been no dynasty without the conquest of the Kingdom of Lydia. Strategically placed on the Mediterranean sea, Lydia was a wealthy kingdom that traded with multiple cultures and had an advance economic system (Eyewitness, Bentley, 131). “Lydian wealth and resources gave Cyrus tremendous momentum” (eyewitness, Bentley, 132). But it more than just military and the advantages of Lydia that built an Empire; while past conquerors would destroy cultures and force assimilation, the Persians were more tolerant and tried to respect the cultures within their empire (Bentley, 136).
Still, with so many ethnic groups scattered throughout the lands, governmental standards had to be set to maintain unity. The key was bureaucracy, taxes, and infrastructure.
The land was broken down into satrapies (provinces) to be overseen by appointed satraps (governors), and the
If the development of the Persian Empire initially went unnoticed, it was because their beginnings were unremarkable. The Persian “Empire” consisted of bickering indo-european tribes until they were united by Cyrus, a warrior from the mountains. He was the founder of the Achaemenid Dynasty, the first of the three persian dynasties(Bentley, 132-133). But there would have been no dynasty without the conquest of the Kingdom of Lydia. Strategically placed on the Mediterranean sea, Lydia was a wealthy kingdom that traded with multiple cultures and had an advance economic system (Eyewitness, Bentley, 131). “Lydian wealth and resources gave Cyrus tremendous momentum” (eyewitness, Bentley, 132). But it more than just military and the advantages of Lydia that built an Empire; while past conquerors would destroy cultures and force assimilation, the Persians were more tolerant and tried to respect the cultures within their empire (Bentley, 136).
Still, with so many ethnic groups scattered throughout the lands, governmental standards had to be set to maintain unity. The key was bureaucracy, taxes, and infrastructure.
The land was broken down into satrapies (provinces) to be overseen by appointed satraps (governors), and the