Aspects of Empire in Achaemenid Sardis [Paperback]

A revolutionary take on the Achaemenid Persian Empire and empire studies in general.The Achaemenid empire, (ca. 550 330 B.C.) was the first world empire, founded by Cyrus II in southwest Iran and lower Mesopotamia. Populated by peoples of different backgrounds, languages and cultures, the challenge was to construct a flexible system that would provide for all groups. Focusing on Sardis, a regional capital in western Anatolia, the book documents how the administration successfully annexed the region and its populace into the Persian Empire. The book brings together current information on the Achaemenid, and is a significant contribution to the study of empires.The Achaemenid empire, (ca. 550 330 B.C.) was the first world empire, founded by Cyrus II in southwest Iran and lower Mesopotamia. Populated by peoples of different backgrounds, languages and cultures, the challenge was to construct a flexible system that would provide for all groups. Focusing on Sardis, a regional capital in western Anatolia, the book documents how the administration successfully annexed the region and its populace into the Persian Empire. The book brings together current information on the Achaemenid, and is a significant contribution to the study of empires.The Achaemenid empire (ca. 550-330 B.C.) was the first world empire, founded by Cyrus II in Southwest Iran and lower Mesopotamia. Populated by peoples of different backgrounds, languages and cultures, the empire's challenge was to construct a system that would provide for the needs of all groups. Focusing on Sardis (a regional capital in western Anatolia), the book documents how the administration successfully annexed the region and its populace into the Persian Empire.List of figures; Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. Sardis in the Achaemenid empire; 2. Textual sources and the effects of empire; 3. The urban structure of Achaemenid Sardis: monuments and meaning; 4. The urban structure of Achaemenid Sardis: sculpture and society; 5. lc'