How Did Zoroastrianism Influence The Development Of The Persian Empire

A golden age of an empire is a breeding ground for new ideas. The Persian empire’s greatest leader Cyrus II or Cyrus the Great not only allowed these ideas but developed them to create the powerful Persian empire. As Cyrus the Great took the throne of the Persian empire in 550 BC he was beginning 200 years of growth under the Achaemenian dynasty. The Persian empire is well known for theirs Armenian-influenced military which they used to conquer most of the middle east and parts of Asia and Africa. As the empire grew feudal administration was implemented. The empire’s official religion was Zoroastrianism this religion was the product of a melting pot of cultures and religions which accumulated across Persia with new regions and increased trade.

The development of Zoroastrianism in the Persian empire during the Achaemenid Dynasty helped develop social loyalties which positively influence it’s leader’s decisions and people’s moral actions. The religions creator called Zoroaster began “preaching a new ideology, based around a single god called Ahura Mazda. This was one of the world's first monotheistic religions”(The Persian Empire: Religion & Social Structure). The Persian empire’s multicultural tolerance at this time allowed new religions such as Zoroastrianism to develop. This religion’s unique beliefs circulating around one god created community in the Persian empire. The religion was connected to the Empires as it’s creator and thus its followers became dedicated to the empire as they were to the religion. Such loyalties allowed the empire to defend itself and flourish as the people were willing to fight for its success. The religious communities of Zoroastrians were lead by religious leaders who gain status in the empire's social ladder as the king's advisors so that Zoroastrianism became the official religion of the roman empire. As the religion became the widespread majority across the empire it’s principles began to positively impact the empire. One of the main principles of Zoroastrianism was that “Life

Darius I constructed a vault of Gold and Silver called Persepolis. This building was an architectural monument of the Persian empire. While it was originally created to hold the wealth of the empire collected from provincial tariffs “Persepolis became a display case for the artistic styles of just about every culture within the Empire, held in a frame of Persian design”(Atlas of Empires). The building represented the empire’s wealth, strength, and diversity. The carvings on the side of the vault depicted the religious beliefs of each culture represented throughout the Persian empire. Without the varieties of religions which impact the Persian empire this artwork would have never been created taking away from the one of Persia’s greatest architectural legacy as the carvings were greatly admired throughout the ancient world. As the Persian empire expanded to occupy new territories military leaders stationed there would sometimes “Adopt the traditional religious garb of the conquered regions clothing into their wardrobe.” New religious traditions influenced the way Persian people dress and their social behavior as demonstrated through the guard’s adaptation to their new posts religious culture. Through Persia’s foreign conquests, new religious ideas are being introduced into Persian society allowing it to grow into its