King of the World: The Life of Cyrus the Great

About this book

The Persian Empire was the world's first hyperpower, with territory stretching from Central Asia to Northeastern Africa and from Southeastern Europe to the Indus Valley. It was the dominant geopolitical force from the later sixth century to its conquest by Alexander in the 330s BCE. Much of the empire's territory was conquered by its founder, Cyrus the Great, who reigned from 559-530 BCE. Cyrus became a legend in his own lifetime, and his career inspired keen interest from Persia's unruly neighbors to the west, the ancient Greeks. The idealized portrait of Cyrus by the Greek Xenophon had a profound impact on ancient, medieval, and early modern debates about rulership. King of the World provides an authoritative and accessible account of Cyrus the Great's life, career, and legacy. While Greek sources remain central to any narrative about Cyrus, a wealth of primary evidence is found in the ancient Near East, including documentary, archaeological, art historical, and biblical material. Matt Waters draws from all of these sources while consistently contextualizing them in order to provide a cohesive understanding of Cyrus the Great. This overview addresses issues of interpretation and reconciles limited material, while the narrative keeps Cyrus the Great's compelling career at the forefront. Cyrus' legacy is enormous and not fully appreciated-- King of the World takes readers on a journey that reveals his powerful impact and preserves his story for future generations.

About the author

Matt Waters has 2 books in the store, published between 2014 and 2022, mostly in History.

Details

Format

Paperback

ISBN-13

9780197803073

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Published

February 4, 2025

First published

June 17, 2022

Pages

272

Weight

11.4 oz

Editions

4 (Paperback · Hardcover · Audio CD)

Subject

History