Compare And Contrast Cyrus The Great And King Ashoka

Cyrus the Great and King Ashoka were successful rulers because they both developed laws to protect their kingdom, valued their citizen’s rights and religions, and had a strong military. While they both had a thriving empire, they developed them in different ways. In order to be a good ruler, he must be liked by your subjects. Cyrus the Great as well as King Ashoka had strong leadership skills that enabled them to lead their people with confidence and power. They both wanted their kingdom to grow continuously. Historians today often refer to Cyrus the Great and King Ashoka as the most powerful rulers of their time. It is critical for a kingdom to have a strong set of laws, even in today’s time. These laws help the kingdom to thrive,†¦show more content†¦According to Josephus, a Jewish historian, Cyrus is extremely respectful to the Jewish religion. Cyrus declared, â€Å"I have given leave to as many of the Jews that dwell in my country as please to retur n to their own country, and to rebuild their city, and to build the temple of God at Jerusalem on the same place where it was before.† Cyrus also sent his treasurer, Mithridates, and the governor of the Jews, Zorobabel, to â€Å"lay the foundations of the temple† and to help with the development of it. This would ensure that it gets done properly and under King Cyrus’s control (Document 2). King Ashoka used Edicts to keep his citizens properly informed and to make their lives easier. He used them to show how much he really valued his citizens loyalty. As an example of this, Edict five states that all religions were to be accepted, especially Dhamma. He believed that Dhamma would promote welfare and happiness to all whom were devoted to it. Ashoka worshiped Dhamma and believed it would be best for his citizens to as well (Document 6). Lastly, every successful kingdom, even in today’s world, must have a tremendously strong military. Most countries today revolve around a dependable military. The military allow the citizens to live a safe and peaceful life, while it helps the city to expand. Cyrus the Great had a successful empire because his military allowed it to expand, spreading his empire’s land, culture, and