Persia: The First & The Largest Global Empire: Iran Travel

Описание: Cyrus the Great, the Kind of the Kings, the King of Persia, the founder of democracy and human rights founded the massive Achaemenid Persian Empire, the first and largest of its time, by conquering Media, Lydia, and Babylon, creating a vast realm from the Balkans/Egypt to the Indus River. He became famous for his military prowess and humane governance, practicing religious and cultural tolerance, freeing the Jews from Babylonian captivity, and respecting local customs, establishing a model for future empires. He is widely admired for his benevolent rule and is famously associated with the Cyrus Cylinder, an ancient artifact often referred to as the world's first charter of human rights and the earlies declaration of democracy.
Around 2500 years ago (c. 500 BCE), the Persian Achaemenid Empire was incredibly vast, the largest of its time, stretching over 5.5 million sq km from the Balkans and Egypt to the Indus Valley, encompassing diverse lands like Turkey, Mesopotamia, Central Asia, and North Africa, and ruling nearly half the world's population.
Key Aspects of its Vastness:
Territorial Extent: It covered huge swathes of Asia, Africa, and Europe, including modern Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, parts of Greece, and Central Asia.
Population: It governed an astonishing 44% of the world's population, a record for any empire.
Geographic Reach: From the Indus River (East) to Macedonia (West) and Egypt (South), it was truly a massive, multi-continental power.
Administration: This vastness was managed by a centralized administration with satraps (governors) and a sophisticated system of roads and communication, notes this History Guild article.
In essence, the Persian Empire was a superpower, the first of its kind, integrating numerous cultures and peoples under one rule.
Cyrus the Great "saved" the Jews by conquering the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE and subsequently issuing a decree that ended the Babylonian captivity, allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem.
His actions were a part of his general policy of religious tolerance and respect for the customs of conquered peoples, which was a revolutionary approach at the time.
Key Actions Taken by Cyrus
Issued the Edict of Restoration: According to the biblical books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Cyrus issued a royal decree that allowed the Jewish people to return to the Land of Israel.
Repatriated Exiles: While the Babylonians and Assyrians had a policy of deporting conquered populations to erase their national identity, Cyrus allowed displaced peoples to return to their homelands, which included the Jews.
Provided Financial Support: He not only permitted their return but also, according to biblical accounts, provided financial assistance from his own treasury to fund the rebuilding of the Second Temple.
Restored Sacred Vessels: Cyrus returned the sacred vessels and artifacts that King Nebuchadnezzar II had plundered from the First Temple during the siege of Jerusalem decades earlier.
Motivations
Political Strategy: By allowing local populations a degree of autonomy and fostering loyalty, Cyrus sought to stabilize his vast empire and gain support in strategically important regions, such as those near Egypt, which he intended to conquer.
Religious Tolerance: Historical accounts and the Cyrus Cylinder (an ancient cuneiform inscription) confirm that Cyrus generally respected local religions and paid homage to local deities, such as the Babylonian god Marduk, to gain the support of the local priesthood and populace.
Divine Will (Biblical Perspective): The Hebrew Bible portrays Cyrus as an instrument of God's will, even referring to him as "anointed" or a "messiah" (a unique honor for a non-Jewish king) who was chosen to fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah regarding the end of the 70-year Babylonian exile.
Cyrus's policy was in stark contrast to previous empires and his actions are highly praised in Jewish literature, marking a pivotal moment known as the Return to Zion and the beginning of the Second Temple period.
Come to the city of Shiraz, Iran and see his vibrant and huge palace (Persepolis).
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