The
Persians- Cyrus the Great was the founding father
of the Persian Civilization and of the new Iranian Monarchy. Cyrus founded a
monarchy, although it was a form of democratic government based on freedom of
religion, association, race, and color. He outlawed slavery. According to Herodotus,
“No race is ready to adopt foreign ways as the Persian.” Cyrus was a benevolent
autocrat, though he heard the opinions of his numerous advisors. The Achaemanid
Empire was organized hierarchically with the sovereign king, his court, and the
central government, armed with a professional bureaucracy, and the army at the
top. Next were the satrap and his court establishment, followed by the sub-satraps
in charge of the provincial and local administrative districts. Also in place
was a complex system of checks and balances.
http://www.livius.org/dynasty/achaemenids/
http://www.livius.org/dynasty/achaemenids/