Cyrus the Great

Founder of the Persian Empire and pioneer of human rights policies

Cyrus the Great (c. 600–530 BCE), founder of the Achaemenid Empire, revolutionized ancient governance by promoting tolerance and human dignity. Unlike conquerors of his time, Cyrus respected local cultures and religions, exemplified by his Cyrus Cylinder, often hailed as the first charter of human rights.

After conquering Babylon in 539 BCE, Cyrus freed enslaved peoples, including the Jews, whom he allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. His policies of religious freedom and administrative decentralization set a precedent for future empires. The Persian Empire under Cyrus spanned three continents, fostering unprecedented cultural and economic exchange.

Cyrus’s legacy endures in historical texts like Xenophon’s Cyropaedia, which influenced Enlightenment thinkers. His model of governance inspired leaders from Alexander the Great to modern advocates of multiculturalism.