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Role and Nature of Bureaucracy (Laws (split empire into 7 divisions (each…
Role and Nature of Bureaucracy
The Persian court
King supported by high officials from royal family & other nobles - owed loyalty (were granted land & military roles)
influential people in the court:
Members of the royal family:
royal princes (given key admin roles)
satraps, commanders of army/navy
HDT mentions Xerxes' brothers
others:
Persian and Median nobles (not from Achaemeid) - treated equally
lesser kings from other national groups
honorary positions (King's bow bearer, spear bearer)
immortals
Scribes: - Persians & Medians didn't write - role of the scribes indicated by the collections of tablets from Persepolis (scribes were Babylonian and Elamite)
Administration of the Empire
Introduced by Cyrus (achieved initial expansion)
stabilised by Darius (system of satrapies, economic & communications improvements)
enable succeeding Kings to maintain control
Size and nature of the Empire "multi-national, multi-legal and multi-cultural; and quite simply huge" - Granger
satrapies
divided from admin, military, communicative efficiency
20 satrapies (HDT) - 46 national groups
lists of countries ruled by Darius shown on Behistan Rock
boundaries defined by admin areas not necessarily aligned w/ national groups
Satraps
provincial governors
from members of royal family or Persian nobility
some incl: Arimenes and Masistes
represented the King
responsible for collecting tribute, raising military forces, administering the economy
Other Provincial officials
don't want satraps having too much power - divided it
military and civil power normally separated - military w/ garrison commander
scribes - main link between satrapy court & court of King
satrap could be removed on order of the King
king's eyes - travelled and reported on provincial affairs
Roads and couriors
big empire - easy to rebel - need effective communication
Darius improved main routes - between main admin centres (royal road from susa to sardis)
Laws
split empire into 7 divisions (each had combination of local law & his law)
est written codes & board of judges
est regulations about tribute
stress justice, telling the truth & maintaining good order
Daeva Inscription: "I am ruler over them. They bear me their tribute"
harsh punishments (mutilation, impalement, crucifixions) for more serious crimes (disloyalty to the King)
for those who rebel seen on behistan Rock (cut off nose, ears and tongue) - eg. Phrasortes
supports of rebels whipped
definitions
Hazarpatis: commander of the immortals, contingent of Persian nobility - formed king's bodyguard)
Arstibara: spear bearer
Vacabra: King's bow bearer