Why Would You Want to Be Ruled by Cyrus?

1. Cyrus ruled his empire in an unprecedented (brand new) way. Many of the places conquered by Cyrus were already ruled by an invading force. Why would you want to be ruled by Cyrus and not by another invading ruler?

There are several reasons why someone might prefer to be ruled by Cyrus and not by another invading ruler:

Cyrus was known for his policies of tolerance and respect for local customs and traditions. He often allowed conquered peoples to retain their own religions, languages, and laws, as long as they paid tribute to the Persian Empire and acknowledged Cyrus as their ruler. This approach to governance was relatively rare in the ancient world, where conquering powers often sought to impose their own culture and beliefs on their subjects.

Cyrus was also known for his military prowess and his ability to conquer vast territories. However, unlike some conquerors who were content to simply extract tribute and resources from their subjects, Cyrus was interested in building a lasting and stable empire. He often appointed local leaders to govern conquered territories, and he invested in infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and irrigation systems. This helped to foster a sense of unity and stability within the Persian Empire.

Cyrus was also known for his personal qualities, such as his wisdom, courage, and generosity. He was often praised for his fairness and his ability to listen to the concerns of his subjects. This helped to foster a sense of loyalty and respect among the peoples of the Persian Empire, even among those who had initially resisted Persian rule.

Overall, while being ruled by any conquering power would likely have been challenging, Cyrus offered a more tolerant and inclusive approach to governance than many of his contemporaries. This, coupled with his military prowess and personal qualities, likely made him an appealing ruler to many of the peoples he conquered.