King of the World Audiobook Libro.fm

Description

The Persian Empire was the worlds first hyperpower with territory stretching from Central Asia to Northeastern Africa and from Southeastern Europe to the Indus Valley It was the dominant geopolitical force from the later sixth century to its conquest by Alexander in the 330s BCE Much of the empires territory was conquered by its founder Cyrus the Great who reigned from 559530 BCE Cyrus became a legend in his own lifetime and his career inspired keen interest from Persias unruly neighbors to the west the ancient Greeks The idealized portrait of Cyrus by the Greek Xenophon had a profound impact on ancient medieval and early modern debates about rulership

King of the World provides an authoritative and accessible account of Cyrus the Greats life career and legacy While Greek sources remain central to any narrative about Cyrus a wealth of primary evidence is found in the ancient Near East including documentary archaeological art historical and biblical material Matt Waters draws from all of these sources while consistently contextualizing them in order to provide a cohesive understanding of Cyrus the Great This overview addresses issues of interpretation and reconciles limited material while the narrative keeps Cyrus the Greats compelling career at the forefront