World history 101 midterm examination essay example

How the Persian Empire were able to rule such a large, diverse group of subjects

Introduction
The Persian Empire has been shown to be one of the strongest empires of all time. They were able to organise themselves in such a way that they swiftly overpowered their enemies. They managed to build a system that proved to be unshakeable over the years. Additionally, they were able to subdue their neighbours in a way that essentially had them assimilated into the system. They even initiated them into the Islamic religion, which was something they were unfamiliar with and they had to adjust to the new developments. The success of Persia has often made it be quoted as a successful Empire.

Body

The leaders of the Persian empires were very instrumental in the establishment and sustenance of the empire. They used exemplary wisdom to rule over the Empire and also their slaves. They were brilliant administrators and strategists. From the administration system they created, they did not interfere with the way of life of their slaves. Instead, they allowed them have the freedom to continue living their lives as they were used to. This went a long way in sustaining the autonomy of the people involved. As a result, the slaves worked to the best of their ability, which lead to further growth and development of the state.
For these leaders, slavery just was not a word to term to describe those who worked for them. As a matter of fact, slavery was unknown and unheard of in the Persian Empire. As a matter of fact, some of the dynasties, such as the Achaemenid dynasty encouraged the payment of workers (Strayer 275). Naturally, other communities were attracted to the empire. This would in turn lead to heightened production. The benevolence of the Persian leaders is something that has been a point of reference for many years with most arguing that that form of leadership is very fruitful and effective.
Additionally, the Persian cavalries and archers were very skilled. This essentially led to them winning most battles they undertook. They in turn used the resources they lynched to develop their empire. This was very contributory in ruling the different groups of subjects as they were exposed to dissimilar situations with varied behaviour. With the skills they had gained, they were now better poised to rule over others.
Taxation, even in modern times, has been proven to be a major source of contention. The Persian leaders realised the distress associated with excessive tax burden. For this reason, they chose to keep taxes modest. As such, instead of complaining, their subjects would work and this would in turn lead to development.

Compare and contrast their approach in comparison to their predecessors

Most certainly, both them and their predecessors valued progress. Nevertheless, the steps undertaken to achieve the same was what cause the entire difference. While their predecessors focussed more on cheap (and free) labour, they preferred to pay for work paid as long as it was done perfectly. For them, what mattered most was the quality of the work done as opposed to the beatings on a slave. They focussed more on empowering the workers while their predecessors treated the “ slaves” as lesser beings. Additionally, the Persians succeeded more than their predecessors because of the use of advanced technology. For example, they had skilled archers and artisans who could carve advanced weaponry that enabled them to succeed. The size of their army was also another point that was crucial in the success of the Persians as compared to their predecessors. Nonetheless, the Persians, like their predecessors valued hard work, which facilitated the expansion of the empire through trade.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Persian Empire stood out from its counterparts mainly due to how they treated their workers. “ Slaves” were motivated while working as opposed to other places where they had to contend with mistreatment. The strength of their leaders is also worth applauding as they defined the Persian history in a way no other empire managed to.

Why Alexander of Macedon known as “ Alexander the Great”

Alexander was only 20 years old when he inherited an entire kingdom from his father, Phillip II. He had been under constant mentorship from Aristotle until he was 16 years. After his father’s death, the only possible successor was him – in line with the Greek culture. By the time he was 30, he had created an empire way larger than most. His untold wisdom and consistency when it came to achieving success naturally bred “ Alexander the Great.” He went into the books of history as one of the most successful young leaders- as a matter of fact, no one has ever matched up to his achievements (Strayer 313).
When he was just 12 years of age, he shocked his father and those who were watching when he tamed a horse that had proven it could not be ridden. In fact, an attempt to ride it led to a bite. This essentially marked the budding of a friendship between the previously dreaded horse and him; he would later use the horse in all his battles. After the assassination of his father, he inherited an experienced army and a strong kingdom. He used what he had to do exploits in the kingdom. For instance, after he was awarded the generalship of Greece, he saw this as a chance to expand Phillip II’s military expansions. He knew way too well that to succeed it was imperative to have a stable military. During his reign, he managed to overpower a lot of empires; including Persia (Strayer 343).
His conquests endangered cultural diffusion to a great extent. The Hellenistic civilization has widely been attributed to Alexander the Great. This was a period that saw extensive spread of the Greek culture. In the mould of Achilles also, he was considered a classical hero. His many successes made him become featured in Greek and non-Greek cultures – both in their history and also myths. Alexander was so successful that military leaders used him as the gauge through which they placed themselves. He was the measure of excellence. In fact, his military tactics continue to be taught to this date (Strayer 346). For instance, he was able to use few soldiers to conquer and defeat a large army. This is perhaps one of the reasons why Alexander the Great is considered one of the best successful army commanders.
In conclusion, Alexander deserved the “ great” title as he set standards that not most leaders would match. Since he was young, he had managed to overcome what had previously been thought of as impossible. None of the leaders who came after him could even come close to the records he had set; he was in a league of his own.

Works Cited

Strayer, R. W. (2013). Ways of the world: a global history with sources, 2nd ed.,. S. l.: Bedford Bks St Martin’S.