§-Quick questions
NSWAncient HistorySection IV (Historical Periods): Persia - Cyrus II to the death of Darius III
Quick questions on Achaemenid power, authority and historiography Cyrus II to Darius III: HSC Ancient History
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is the two pillars of Achaemenid power?Show answer
Achaemenid power stood on two mutually supporting pillars: an IDEOLOGY of kingship that made the king's rule legitimate, and an ADMINISTRATIVE machinery that made it effective. Neither alone would have held an empire that stretched, at its height, from the Aegean and Egypt to the Indus.
What are the ideology of the King of Kings?Show answer
The Achaemenid king styled himself "King of Kings" (Old Persian shahanshah), the overlord of many subordinate kings and peoples. His authority was religious: he ruled "by the favour of Ahura Mazda", the great creator god, and his central duty was to uphold arta - truth, order, righteousness - against drauga, "the Lie", the force of chaos and rebellion. This ideology is broadcast by the royal inscriptions and reliefs.
What is the administrative machinery?Show answer
Ideology governs nothing on its own. Darius I built the working state. He organised the empire into about 20 satrapies (provinces), each under a satrap - usually a Persian noble, often a royal relative - responsible for tribute, troops and justice.
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