Achaemenid Empire

Mesopotamia, for thousands of years, has been the epicenter for the cyclic rise and fall of great empires throughout history. Empires would fall, only to give birth to a new, more powerful empires whose power and reach has been unprecedented. In the mid ninth century, the Assyrian Empire controlled this land under aggressive, fierce and brutal rule. The Assyrian Empire’s overly aggressive rule essentially gave birth to Persia, a secondary state in its peripheries who united through imitation, as well as through concerted resistance to their powerful primary state neighbor, the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrian Empire would soon fall to the Neo-Babylonian empire, and shortly thereafter in 539 B.C., the Persians led by Cyrus the Great would march

This crucial period would mark the beginning of the Age of Ancient Empires, and the widespread rule of the distinctive Achaemenid empire whom pioneered revolutionary ideas spanning through distinctions of ideology, economics, military, and politics.

The Achaemenid Empire would grow to an unprecedented size and power, spanning from present day Egypt, all the way to Iran and India, accepting and bringing new ideas and customs to the world. Unlike any empire before it, the Achaemenid Empire fostered progressive ideas of diversity, an ideology that has never been accepted before. Historically, conquering empires would require the conquered to submit to conquerors and their god, abolishing and forbidding many of their customs and practices. However, this was not the case with the Achaemenid empire. The Achaemenid empire cultivated a sense of subject people belonging to the greater

The Achaemenid empire was divided into satrapies which were ruled by satraps, or Persian elites, who governed the providence in the king’s name. These satraps did not instill rigid ruling structures on their providences, instead they shaped their rule in accordance to local tradition and customs, and closely interacted with their subjects. However, like many empires before them, the Achaemenid empire chose to continue the practice of elite replacement to minimize potential revolts. Despite practicing elite replacement, Persian rulers still practiced continuity and would make a point to dress in local dress to minimize alienation felt by their subjects, fostering a sense of unity and attachment to the Achaemenid empire, away from their roots. Many local elites freely adopted Persian ways and voluntarily submitted to Persian rule, one local even climbed the latter all the way up to the office of