Cyrus the Great

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Synopsis

During his lifetime, Cyrus the Great was proclaimed the greatest leader of his era and, perhaps, of all time. Much of what we know about Cyrus comes from the Old Testament, the Babylonian Chronicle, and the writings of the ancient historians Herodotus and Xenophon. 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 disparate as Afghani tribesmen and Turkish farmers to create the first far-flung empire known in the Western world. His legacy lives on in the Middle East: He was the leader who set the Persians' and Iranians' national destinies on course more than 2,000 years ago.

About the Author:

Samuel Willard Crompton is a major contributor to the American National Biography, which is intended to be the standard American biographical reference source for years to come. He teaches history at Westfield State College and Holyoke Community College, both in his native western Massachusetts

Children's Literature

Cyrus the Great is universally recognized as the greatest Persian leader. Persian language professor William Jackson's visit to the burial place of Cyrus the Great in 1903 opens the book. In that first chapter, the groundwork is laid to help the reader understand Cyrus's great power and his accomplishments. His tomb is in the city of Parsagadae, which was the site of Cyrus the Great's victory against the king of Medes. After that victory, Cyrus had a palace and an entire city built on the spot. Then, author Crompton takes us back to the beginning of Cyrus's life, sometime between 590 and 580 B.C. Most of what the author covers comes from his research of the Old Testament and writings of two Greek historians, Herodotus and Xenophon. One highlight of the book in regards to Cyrus the Great's leadership was his respect for the Babylonian citizens, their gods, their slaves, and the gods of their slaves. Crompton notes that, after conquering the city in 538 B.C., Cyrus freed the slaves and rebuilt the temples in Babylon. Ultimately, Cyrus is defeated by Tomryis, queen of the Scythians. The second to the last chapter of the book discusses two successors of Cyrus—Darius and Alexander the Great. A chapter about modern-day Iran closes this biography, which is part of the "Ancient World Leaders" series. Reviewer: Lynn O'Connell

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