Persian Empire Dbq Essay

The Persian Empire was a large and powerful empire that required the most skilled leaders. Beginning in 539 B.C.E. Cyrus was the first emperor of Persia, and was followed by many more powerful commanders. Specifically one warrior was able to rise above and lead this empire to greatness. He was a son of Cryus and created the Behistun Inscription. This ruler would be Darius, the great king of all four corners. His creation of this inscription had many goals, and these goals were accomplished using context and rhetorical techniques. Darius’s goals when creating this source was to prove his overwhelming military power as a leader, kindness to his citizens, and to keep his important legacy recognized all of which are evident in his actions and

For example, Darius’s military power was on lists his successful capture of his enemies. Stating, “these nine king did I capture in these wars” (Column I, Line 14). One of Darius’s writing techniques was the use of understatement. Gently brushing off the fact that he victoriously captured nine major enemies. Darius was able to fight nineteen battles, he feels he was able to do this by the grace of his lord Ahuramazda. Darius feels that his power came from his lord, Ahuramazda, who was able to give him the opportunities to become that powerful. One opportunity was when he destroyed Gaumâta, a magian. Gaumâta was an imposter who would kill anybody who was aware that he was not truly a Smerdis. But one day he prayed to Ahuramazda who brought him the help needed to destroy the intruder. Darius also relied on his royal ties as the youngest of a long line of men who were kings. He declares, “My father is Hystaspes; the father of Hystaspes was Arsames; the father of Arsames was Ariaramnes; the father of Ariaramnes was Teispes; the father of Teases was Achaemenes” (Column I, Line 2). Darius clearly was a man with great power which aided him in

For instance, Darius restores the temples that Gaumâta had destroyed. He proudly says, “I restored to the people, and the pasture lands, and the herds and the dwelling places, and the houses which Gaumâta, the Magian, had taken away” (Column I, Line 14) He also restored the land that the famines needed in order to grow food to survive. He also fixed the homes of the families that were destroyed while Gaumâta was in control of Persia. But not only did Darius destroy Gaumâta to protect his own people he destroyed him for his allies as well, “There was no man, either Persian or Mede or of our own dynasty, who took the kingdom from Gaumâta, the Magian” (Column I, Line 13) Darius went to do something to protect his people, but also ended up protecting other civilizations. In the inscription Darius has written it, so that he appears as a more noble person. It is doubtful to assume that the warrior who had fought nineteen battles tried to protect other kingdoms when he defeated Gaumâta. Darius was able to twist the truth by talking about him protecting