Darius I ,also known as Darius the Great, was the third king who reigned from 550-486 BCE during the Achaemenid Empire. While he lived, Darius held the empire at its peak, which stretched from the river Nile and parts of Northern Greece to the Indus River Valley. One of the most major events in Darius 's life was his expedition to discipline Athens and Eretria for their support in the Ionian Revolt. He made his empire larger by vanquishing Thrace and Macedon, and occupying Scythia. He also arranged his empire, by splitting it into provinces and placing governors to rule over it. Darius organized a new financial system, along with making Aramaic the official language of the empire. He further worked on establishment projects throughout the empire. Darius also formulated a codification of laws for Egypt. He order the carving of the cliff-face Behistun Inscription, an autobiography of great modern linguistic significance. Darius also started many massive architectural projects including magnificent palaces in Persepolis, and Susa. Darius was born as the eldest of five sons to a leading figure of power in Persia named Hystaspes. Herodotus of Halicarnassus wrote that after a dream that seemed to predict Darius’ reign, King Cyrus became suspicious of the son of Hystaspes, who was “about twenty at that time and had been left behind in Persia because he was too young for war (Herodotus)”. Herodotus adds that Cyrus sent back Hystaspes to control his son. A couple days late and the
The third ruler of the Persian Empire was known as Darius I. He was the creator of the twenty provinces, in addition to starting the assembly of Persepolis and bestowing government titles to Persians, rather than to Medes.
The Achaemenid Empire 's standardization of land and sea routes solidified their bureaucratic system, inspiring Romans to do the same. The Persian Royal Road was constructed by Darius the Great in the 5th century BCE. It is considered to be the first
Darius I became king in 552 B.C. He expanded Achaemenid Empire into southeastern Europe. He regulated taxation, introduced gold and silver coins, reorganized the government. The empire was divided into provinces called satrapies. The provinces were ruled by satraps.
He centralized his government at Persepolis, and standardized taxes, coin, and code of law throughout the empire. Darius is known as an administrator. It is important to note that both rulers were extremely tolerant of different ethnic groups and cultures. Darius came to power after Cambyses, Cyrus's son. Camyses ruled only a few years before he died under mysterious circumstances and we have several contradictory accounts. Furthermore, Darius was not a member of the royal family, but rather was a general in Cambyses army. Almost the entire empire revolted on Darius and he spent years fighting rebellions before stability returned. Darius crossed into Europe, the first time an eastern power had done so, and first subdued Thrace, then moved north and attacked the Scythians to the east of the Black Sea. The attack was a failure and Darius returned to Persia only to return to the region later in an attempt to absorb Greece. His invasion was again unsuccessful as his forces were crushed at the battle of Marathon. I would say both Cyrus and Darius fit the name the great because although some may have seen Darius as just an administrator they gave their lives to their job and were known to be the greatest because they did everything in their power to
However, the most important reason as to why they were significant is due to the fact they invented the alphabet. The alphabet really changed things with trade as they were able to communicate better. Darius - Darius was the replacement king after King Cyrus died during a battle for the Persian empire. He was well known for the fact that he conquered people of different cultures and let them keep following their own cultures under his rule. All he wanted in return was loyalty and tributes.
• Alexander (king and son of Philip, a.k.a. Alexander the Great) defeated the Persian King Darius Ⅲ.
“So Darius son of Hystaspes was made king, and the whole of Asia, which Cyrus first and Cambyses after him had conquered, was subject to him, except the Arabians; these did not yield as of slaves to the Persians, but were united to them by friendship, having given Cambyses passage into Egypt, which the Persians could not enter without the consent of the Arabians.” Herodotus once wrote. To establish better control, he divided the empire into regions. He divided Persia into 20 areas. Governors called satraps governed the regions in Darius’s name.
Darius l seized power when the death of Cyrus’s son left Persia without a clear leader. Darius divided the empire into 20 provinces. He chose governors(satraps) to rule the provinces. After he chose his governors, Darius expanded the Persian Empire eastward to the Indus Valley and westward into Southeastern Europe. “King of kings” is what Darius called himself to remind other rulers of his power. Roads was one of Darius’s improvements to Persian society. He also formed a new capital called Persepolis. During his reign, a popular new religion(Zoroastrianism) arose in Persia.
Long before the great king, Cyrus’ death the Persian Empire had reached the milestone that allowed it to be the first empire that was so large. Cyrus had a son, who took over the throne in 530 B.C.E., named Cambyses II. Cambyses would show the same ambition we saw in his father. In 525 B.C.E he added Egypt to the Persian Empire. His victory was not to be enjoyed for long. He died in 522 B.C.E. and it is assumed that he may have died from a sword wound. This wound is believed to be accidental. Although, his death was not mourned for like that of his father. This may have been due to his
Cyrus the Great who was also called Cyrus the Elder of the Greeks was not a traditional tyrant. As an oppressor, he developed the Achaemenian empire and was known as ‘the father of his people’. Cyrus saw himself as a savior of people rather than a conquer. Born in Persia around 590 and 580 BCE Cyrus was a quintessential ruler who came from a family of leaders. Cyrus’s parents were the daughter of Astyages’, the king of Medes, and Cambyses, a prince. Herodotus, a Greek historian, told an epic that Astyages dreamt that Cyrus, his grandson, would dethrone him. Astyages wanted Cyrus dead so he instructed his counselor and general to kill him. However, the general couldn’t follow through and gave the newborn to a shepherd. The shepherd didn’t kill Cyrus
Alexander III or Macedon was a man who was political and has military talents, he was also tutored by Aristotle when he was younger. After the king was murdered, Alexander took control of the kingdom and even though there was no evidence of involvement, many Macedonians suspected that Alexander had been a part of the plot. Alexander the Great had impacts of three major conquests, the Hellenistic world and the legacy of his empire which were all in Persia, India and Egypt.
Alexander the Great, he is one the most glorified and historically significant leaders within history. Unique, the one word that could be used to describe the details and importance of his life. Unlike his predecessors that came before him, what sets him apart has to be how he rose to power and how he used that power. And even though he only lived until the age of 33, he accomplished what those that came before him failed to do so. The topics to be discussed are how he rose to power and what he managed to accomplish through military strategies and his cultural influence on the Persian Empire.
During the course of his life and reign, Alexander had fought and won many battles and wars, defeating many kings and warlords throughout the ancient world. Perhaps his most recognized conquest was of the Achaemenid Empire of Persia and its ‘King of Kings’ Darius III during the Battle of Issus 1. After defeating the Persians at the Battle
Darius I, also known as Darius the Great, was the third king who reigned from 550-486 BCE during the Achaemenid Empire. While he lived, Darius held the empire at its peak, which stretched from the river Nile and parts of Northern Greece to the Indus River Valley. One of the most major events in Darius 's life was his expedition to discipline Athens and Eretria for their support in the Ionian Revolt. He made his empire larger by vanquishing Thrace and Macedonia, and occupying Scythia. He also arranged his empire, by splitting it into provinces and placing governors to rule over it. Darius organized a new financial system, along with making Aramaic the official language of the empire. He followed religious tolerance that created peace within the empire. Darius order the carving of the cliff-face Behistun Inscription, an autobiography of great modern linguistic significance.
For the next few years he would lay siege and conquer many cities and countries and gains control of a vast majority of Asia Minor and Egypt. After Alexander had conquered Babylon he set his sights on Persia. He took Susa, one of the capitals and Persepolis the ceremonial capital. Alexander had set his sights on taking Darius III and pursed him into Media then Parthia. In the year 330BC, Darius was taken prisoner by the Bactrian Satrap Bessus who had Darius stabbed as Alexander approached, He declared himself the new king under the name of Artaxerxes V. Alexander gave Darius a proper burial next to his Achaemenid ancestors and proclaims himself the rightful successor. Though Bessus proclaims himself as King of the Empire, he had no relations to anyone of the royal family, therefore it is generally accepted that the death of Darius the III marked the end of Achaemenid Empire. Much of the remaining Empire falls to Alexander or gains independence for themselves. Alexander succeeded in conquering the Achaemenid Empire because of his great tactical prowess on the battlefield making him and his army a formidable enemy for the generals of the Empire. He conquers many cities and state swiftly, many were willing to submit after seeing what they had done to other armies. In conquering the cities he began to merge Greek language, Greek Culture and Greek population with these conquered areas making the original culture of Persia decline.