Example Of Essay On The Earth And Its People

The Persian Empire was an empire that was able leave its homeland of Iran to expand control to vast regions and diverse cultures. The empire was able to conquer because of a king named Cyrus who had a unique manner of occupying foreign lands in a fashion unlike previous kings. Most kings used brutal force on the people of the land, but Cyrus honored and respected their ways of life. After Cyrus was killed, his sons Cambyses and Darius continued ruling; however, Cambyses made choices that did not bring the success, actually weakening what he did upon his invasion of Egypt. Darius was capable of domination similar to his fathers. Through his leadership the Persian Empire stretched as far as Europe, Libya, Russia, and India.
The most distinctive elements of the Greek civilization evolvement during the Archaic and Classical period included their resources, such as metals and marbles, the agriculture, a written alphabet, and democracy. The Persian Wars affected the culture and politics of ancient Greece and Iran through the invasion of the eastern Mediterranean and western Asian areas where collaborations among the separate groups developed. The Greeks and Non-Greeks developed a new cultural synthesis during the Hellenistic age by immersing the Persian culture in the Greek cities, which is why Alexandria became well known. The Greek Empires ability to engage in warfare and colonization as a method of expanding power and controlling resources grew stronger through their physical strength and unity as “one-people.”
1-How does Darius justify his assumption of power in the Behistun inscription? What is his relationship to Ahura-mazda, the Zoroastrian god, and what role does divinity play in human affairs?
Darius justifies his power in the Behistun script by declaring that, Ahura-mazda, a chief deity of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism was one the ancient religions in those times that many people followed. Darius had adopted the practices and beliefs of the religion as propaganda to justify the ruler ship of his empire. By claiming that the gods were assisting him in his claims of ownership of the lands, it left people without much reason to argue. The response of those whose lands were invaded were forced to bow gracefully when the gods were behind the man. Using teaching from the religion as a means to pacify the people of the foreign lands was a brilliant ploy to minimize rebellion and casualty. High ethical principles were what he claimed his ruler ship to be driven by.

2-What is the Persian concept of justice?

The Persian concept of justice included good and bad based on their religious beliefs. They revered nature and did not like for disrespect to be brought to the nature elements of earth such as the water or plants. The strong belief in honesty was held in high regard. When realizing their beliefs, fighting against others and dishonesty to a ruler who was requested by the Gods would be unjustifiable.
3-How do stories in Herodotus accord with the Persian conceptions of empire, kingship, and justice seen in the royal inscriptions? Where do we see gleeful Greek subversions of those ideals?
Herodotus accord with the Persian conceptions of empire, kingship, and justice were seen in the royal inscription through his means of strongly following a strict principle that was followed by the people. Similar to the Persians, the Greeks happily obliged to Herodotus. The angle he took differed from the Darius’ style of controlling the masses, however, the manipulation of the people was a method used in his control over the lands he ruled, as well as the laws that the citizens had to abide by.