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Lesson 3 Assignment

Christian Ibarra

CCP

HIST 121: World History: Distant Past

Dr. Todd Zimmerman

September 14, 2024

Lesson 3 Assignment

Q. 1

Do Cyrus and Darius merit the title “Great”?

Cyrus and Darius merit the title Great due to their impressive governance. Cyrus the

Great established and expanded the Persian empire, overthrew Babylon, released 40,000 Jews

from slavery, penned the first human rights declaration, and exercised fair and considerate

leadership over the people he had subjugated (Judge, 2021). During the period of his reign, his

kingdom, which spanned the Aegean Sea to the Indus River, was the biggest in history. Cyrus

demonstrated his prowess as a soldier and politician by piecing together his kingdom via a

combination of conquest and negotiation.

Significantly, in order to acquire territory and enlarge his empire, Darius undertook

military campaigns throughout Europe, Greece, Egypt, and even the Indus Valley. The Persian

Empire quickly grew to become one of the biggest empires in global history. In addition to

continuing his military prowess, Darius enhanced the Persian Empire's legal and economic

framework and carried out amazing building projects. Additionally, Darius built a number of

routes and highways throughout Egypt.

How they differed from rulers who preceded and followed them?

Cyrus gave all his subjects the right to take part in governing when he established his

kingdom. In the earliest indication of his dedication to cultural diversity, he appropriated the

virtues of other cultures. He freed the Jews from their decades-long captivity in Babylon

(Waters, 2022). As a result of his assistance in getting them back to the promised land, Cyrus

gained notoriety in Jewish tradition as a savior who helped them to establish the Second Temple

in Jerusalem.
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Encompassing a wide and diverse region, Darius the Great contributed to the unification

of the Achaemenid empire, which was a challenge for the rulers who preceded him (Damsteegt,

2020). Adapting Cyrus the Great's administrative reform agenda to the demands of the growing

empire allowed for a large portion of this unity to be accomplished. Also, Darius's support and

promotion of regional customs and construction endeavors helped make it happen.

Mention their accomplishments.

Cyrus founded the Persian Empire. He was the inaugural leader to bring the Iranian

people together. The huge Persian Empire stretched from what is now Iran to what is now

Turkey. Notably, Darius expanded upon and solidified the victories of his forebears. He carried

out Cyrus the Great's initial division of the kingdom into satrapies. Darius also set the annual

tribute that each province was to pay. Under his leadership, colonial commerce and trade were

advanced via audacious and visionary initiatives.

Q. 2

The legacy of the Minoans and Mycenaeans to Hellenic civilization?

|The Minoans created a vast civilization that occurred between 2600 and 1400 BC.

Because of a robust fleet and commerce in the Mediterranean Sea, they established a robust and

enduring society. Linguists refer to the Minoan written language as Linear A. Importantly, from

within 1600 BC to 1100 BC, the Mycenaeans reigned over the region where they originated on

mainland Greece (Maran & Wright, 2019). Athens and Thebes were two more Mycenaean

settlements that developed into significant city-states throughout the height of Ancient Greece.

Trade spread throughout the Mediterranean due to the Mycenaeans. They constructed enormous

commerce ships and sailed to nations such as Egypt, where they exchanged commodities like

wine and olive oil for ivory and metals.

In what ways were they different?

The Minoans and Mycenaeans became first civilizations to emerge in Greece, and they

differed in diverse ways. The Minoans, who thrived on the island of Crete, exemplified a

sophisticated maritime culture characterized by labyrinthine palaces, colorful murals, and a

mysterious writing known as Linear A (Judge, 2021). On the other hand, the Mycenaeans, who

lived on mainland Greece, demonstrated military strength, fortified citadels, and the

transformation of Minoan Linear A into Linear B.

Q. 3

Contradictions between Athenian imperialism and Athenian democratic ideals.

Athenian imperialism was oppressive as they coerced people in undertaking various

duties. It was a challenge for Athenians to express themselves freely, and to actively participate

in politics. In Athenian imperialism, Athens established puppet governments, brutally crushed

dissident or rebellious administrations, and used force to collect taxes. On the other hand, in the

Athenian democracy, Athenians were granted equal voting rights, freedom of expression, and the

chance to actively participate or engage in politics (Bonner, 2023). Citizens of the Athens

democracy not only actively participated in the systems that oversaw them, allowing them direct

power over every aspect of the political process, but they also engaged in a direct democracy in

which they made the decisions that regulated their lives.

What position did Athens have in the Delian league?

Athens, the most prominent member of the Delian League, used its enormous and potent

fleet to defend the other members who were unable to defend themselves. Athens was

undoubtedly the unofficial head of the league, despite the fact that authority was shared evenly

among the members, each of whom had one vote. A divide had developed between Sparta and
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Athens during and after the war, which was largely acknowledged by the League. Consequently,

Athens mandated that the Delian League pay a financial levy to fund the expansion of its defense

fleet.

How did its allies view Athens?

The allies viewed Athens as the most powerful in the Delian league. Athens eventually

came to rule the League and raised money from its allies by using its influence. Nonetheless, the

majority of these monies were utilized to elevate Athens' stature and prosperity while

transforming the city into a work of beauty.

The impact of the Peloponnesian War on the Greek World.

The primary impact of the Peloponnesian war was the Delian League's collapse. For a

while, Sparta was the leading city state, but as alliances and leagues grew around them, they

began to lose power (Bonner, 2023). It appeared as though the Greeks were about to descend into

several centuries of separate strife until Philip of Macedon's Macedonian army materialized and

brought them all together. After then, the Greek towns were a part of several Successor

kingdoms, until the Romans came and conquered the entire nation. In terms of culture, Athens

continued to be a significant metropolis throughout the Mediterranean, especially to the Romans.

References

Bonner, R. J. (2023). Aspects of Athenian democracy. Univ of California Press.

Damsteegt, P. G. (2020). The Contributions of Cyrus, Darius I, and Artaxerxes I to the Decree to

Restore and Build Jerusalem. Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 31(1), 5.

Judge, Edward H. (2021). Connections: A World History Volume 1, Third Edition

Maran, J., & Wright, J. C. (2019). The rise of the Mycenaean culture, palatial administration and

its collapse. A Companion to the Archaeology of Early Greece and the Mediterranean,

97-132.

Waters, M. W. (2022). King of the World: The Life of Cyrus the Great. Oxford University Press.