Cyrus the Great was the man who created what we call the Persian Empire by conquering many neighbouring lands, and consolidating them all into one, with himself as emperor.
Although Cyrus’s military accomplishments rank with those of Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan, he also was known as a master of diplomacy and tact. He welded together groups of people as widely different as Afghani tribesmen and Turkish farmers to create the first far-flung empire known in the Western world.
Cyrus is best remembered for his unprecedented tolerance towards those he defeated. When he conquered Babylon, he did so to cheers from the Jewish community, who welcomed him as a liberator he allowed the Jews to return to their own Promised Land. He also declared the first Charter of Human Rights known to mankind. He is reputed to have devised the first postal system.
