Xerxes Administration Essay
ESSAY 1: ADMINISTRATION OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE
It has widely been established by both modern and ancient historians that the administrative basis of the Persian Empire was introduced by Cyrus the Great, where it was later revised and stabilised by Darius I around 519BC. According to Herodotus, Xerxes had inherited his father Darius’ perfected system of satrapies, satraps and economic and communications improvements which enabled Xerxes to continue the running of the Achaemenid empire. Modern historian Bury states that the administration of the empire included all the important aspects of life, such as; military, cultural, social and judicial influences. Despite various views amongst both ancient and modern historians whether subject peoples were fairly treated within the empire, it has been generally established that Persian administration led by Cyrus II, Darius I and Xerxes was successful in establishing and maintaining a successful communications and trade network within the empire.
Cyrus II had established the administrative basis for the empire, where his son Darius perfected the system around 519 BCE. According to Herodotus, Darius’ administration was later followed by all successive kings, including his own son Xerxes. He notes that Xerxes, who succeeded kingship in 486BC inherited the empire created by his three predecessors; Cyrus the Great, Cambyses and Darius the I. Modern historian Olmstead, explains that the Persian empire was a hereditary monarchy, meaning that the descendants of Achaemenes, the Archaemenids, formed the royal dynasty where they ruled by the grace of Ahuramazda. It has generally been established by many modern scholars such as Granger, that Xerxes and his predecessors were not considered gods, but were absolute monarchs and autocrats, who claimed religious and hereditary sanction for their rule, by the grace of Ahuramazda. Like his father Darius, Xerxes was an absolute ruler, where all his subjects had to obey him. On the Naqsh I
It has widely been established by both modern and ancient historians that the administrative basis of the Persian Empire was introduced by Cyrus the Great, where it was later revised and stabilised by Darius I around 519BC. According to Herodotus, Xerxes had inherited his father Darius’ perfected system of satrapies, satraps and economic and communications improvements which enabled Xerxes to continue the running of the Achaemenid empire. Modern historian Bury states that the administration of the empire included all the important aspects of life, such as; military, cultural, social and judicial influences. Despite various views amongst both ancient and modern historians whether subject peoples were fairly treated within the empire, it has been generally established that Persian administration led by Cyrus II, Darius I and Xerxes was successful in establishing and maintaining a successful communications and trade network within the empire.
Cyrus II had established the administrative basis for the empire, where his son Darius perfected the system around 519 BCE. According to Herodotus, Darius’ administration was later followed by all successive kings, including his own son Xerxes. He notes that Xerxes, who succeeded kingship in 486BC inherited the empire created by his three predecessors; Cyrus the Great, Cambyses and Darius the I. Modern historian Olmstead, explains that the Persian empire was a hereditary monarchy, meaning that the descendants of Achaemenes, the Archaemenids, formed the royal dynasty where they ruled by the grace of Ahuramazda. It has generally been established by many modern scholars such as Granger, that Xerxes and his predecessors were not considered gods, but were absolute monarchs and autocrats, who claimed religious and hereditary sanction for their rule, by the grace of Ahuramazda. Like his father Darius, Xerxes was an absolute ruler, where all his subjects had to obey him. On the Naqsh I