Student Question
What was the Persian Empire's social structure?
Quick answer:
The Persian Empire, specifically the Achaemenid Empire, was a monarchy ruled by a hereditary leader with absolute power. It featured an efficient administrative system with satraps as regional leaders, allowing local autonomy to reduce revolts. The empire had a sophisticated road and messenger network, a regular taxation system for financial stability, and a complex law code, facilitating control over its vast territories.
The Achaemenid Empire (558–330 BC) of Persia, popularly referred to as the Persian empire, was a monarchy. It was ruled by a single hereditary leader, who considered himself divinely authorized to hold absolute power.
The Persian empire was a model of efficient ancient administration. The
monarch appointed satraps as regional leaders, and delegated power in a way the
preserved sufficient local autonomy to prevent most (non-Greek) subjects from
wishing to revolt. It had an efficient system of roads and messengers, allowing
rule over a large geographic area, and a regular system of taxation that
established it on a sound financial footing. It also had a complex and uniform
law code.
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