Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
An outside view of the Louvre Museum in Paris where nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square meters.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
The Achaemenid Empire would eventually control Egypt, encompassing some 1 million square miles unified by a complex network of roads, and ruled by absolute monarchs to become the greatest empire the world had ever seen.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
At the height of its power after the conquest of Egypt, the empire encompassed approximately 8 million km spanning three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
The historical mark of the Achaemenid Empire went far beyond its territorial and military influences and included cultural, social, and religious influences as well.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
The impact of Cyrus the Great's Edict of Restoration is mentioned in Judo-Christian text and the empire was instrumental in spread of Zoroastrianism as far east as China.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
Even Alexander the Great, the man who would set out to conquer this vast empire would respect its customs, by enforcing respect for the royal Persian kings including Cyrus the Great, and even by appearing in proskynesis, a Persian royal custom, despite stern Macedonian disapproval.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
The empire took its unified form with a central administration around Pasargadae erected by Cyrus the Great.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
The empire had a centralised, bureaucratic administration under the Emperor and a large professional army and civil services, inspiring similar developments in later empires.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
Cyrus the Great created an organized army including the Immortals unit, consisting of 10,000 highly trained soldiers
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
Cyrus the Great founded the empire as a multi-state empire, governed by four capital states; Pasargadae, Babylon, Susa and Ekbatana.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
Cyrus also formed an innovative postal system throughout the empire, based on several relay stations called Chapar Khaneh.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
Darius the Great moved the capital from Pasargadae to Persepolis, he revolutionized the economy by placing it on a silver and gold coinage system also introducing a regulated and sustainable tax system that was precisely tailored to each satrapy (governor).
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
The amount of tax was based on their supposed productivity and their economic potential. For instance, Babylon was assessed for the highest amount and for a startling mixture of commodities - 1000 silver talents, four months supply of food for the army.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
Under the Achaemenids, the trade was extensive and there was an efficient infrastructure that facilitated the exchange of commodities in the far reaches of the empire.
Remnants of Achaemenid era (ca. 550-330 BCE) kept in Louvre Museum
Zoroastrianism, the de facto religion of the empire, explicitly forbids slavery, and the kings of Achaemenid Persia, especially the founder Cyrus the Great, followed this ban to varying degrees, as evidenced by the freeing of the Jews at Babylon, and the construction of Persepolis by paid workers.
