In later centuries, some Greeks preferred the vision of a coercive monoculture to Cyrus’ vision of toleration. When the villain of Hanukka, Antiochus of Syria, tried to impose this on the Jews, the Maccabees defeated him. But the quest for a monoculture did not end. It continued in Europe and remains even in modern times through radical strains of secularism. It continues in the Middle East with violent religious extremists like IS.As often when Cyrus comes up, there is some idealization and projection of modern values onto him in this piece. It is true that Cyrus adopted the policy of tolerance of the cultures of the peoples he subjugated - as long as they surrendered promptly and thereafter kept order and paid the exactions charged by the Persian overlords. But if they didn't, he would kill them. His colonialism had effective propaganda and seems to have been administered competently, and it certainly was an improvement on the policies of his Assyrian predecessors and indeed of ISIS today. But ultimately this is damning with faint praise. It was still colonialism and imperialism and its exemplary value in the present is very limited.
Today, researchers are confirming the obvious: Tolerant governments produce societal harmony by winning people’s hearts and minds. Cyrus recognized this 25 centuries ago. The result was security and peace. IS and other brutal tyrants do not acknowledge this, and the result is insecurity and strife. Cyrus and his vision will endure. IS will not. It’s destined for the ash heap, the final home for tyranny of every kind.
I have earlier similar comments here and links. And for much, much more on Cyrus the Great and the Cyrus Cylinder, see here and follow the many links.
