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Document Details :

Title: Achaemenid Imperial Policies and Provincial Governments
Author(s): DANDAMAYEV, M.A.
Journal: Iranica Antiqua
Volume: 34    Date: 1999   
Pages: 269-282
DOI: 10.2143/IA.34.0.519115

Abstract :
The subjects of the Achaemenids lived in a rather moderate ideological climate and felt much less pressure of official ideology and religious doctrines than it was characteristic of later periods of history. Thus, the central government practically did not interfere in local social and economic structures and existing traditions. Moreover, the imperial administration was not interested in the internal intellectual life of the subjected peoples. The ancient cultures of Egypt, Babylonia, Judah, Elam, Ionia and other countries continued to develop during the Achaemenid period, but all their cultural and ideological alterations were due to internal development and were not considerably influenced by the Persian rule. The Persian authorities were only concerned with creating a stable administration and establishing an efficient system for collecting royal taxes.

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