social+political+structure

 Social and Political Structure __**Main Religon: Zoroastrianism **__ __**Goverment **__
 * Zoroastrianism could be argued as the most important aspect of there culture, indeed it is why the empire exists (see events and leaders) [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Zoroastrianism is based upon the Idea that the creator of the universe Ahura Mazda is the ultimate good being and the universe is the constant battleground between him and his evil opposite Angra Mainyu [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Everything that is good in the world is an aspect of Ahura Mazda and by doing good dead's you make him more powerful in the fight against evil; and also if you do bad deeds you help Angra Mainyu [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * At the end of time Ahura Mazda will triumph and all the souls (dead or alive) will go into a timeless heaven [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * One thing that's cool about this is that even if you died and were bad and you went to the Zoroastrianism version of hell (a dark place of nothingness) at the end of time Ahura Mazda still takes you to the heaven place [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * At the end of time when everyone goes to heaven if you died as and adult you turn into a healthy 40 year old and if you kid you turn 15 [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Everyone doesn't need food water or rest and there are no weapons and everyone speaks one language in a country without borders [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Another aspect of Zoroastrianism is the rituals of fire and water, these are considered the most life giving and pure elements [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * No ritual is without one or both [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * They were the first and last elements created [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * They believe that fire came from water [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Water is the source of wisdom [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Fire is the medium in with it is gained [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Life and death
 * So before you are born you are one your fravishi (your guardian angel) living in the spirit world and when you are born your soul and it seperate though its stays around watching you and protecting you[| (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * During life your suppose to help out Ahura Mazda by doing good deeds and gathering information about the material world (science centre) [|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * Four days after you die you join back up with your fravashi and go back to the spirit world relaying all the information you gained about the material world to help Ahura Mazda win the battle[|(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism)]
 * The Persians were the first people to have to deal with such a large area of land with such a high population so they had to create a whole new form of government which was totally revolutionary fro its time (Briant, Pirre, 274)
 * To deal with not only the massive population but the wide range of societal backgrounds they took many pieces of there general law and goverment from a combination of the states that were under them
 * but mainly they just let individual states to there own devises
 * The empire was made into 7 states; there capitals are as follows: Ecbatana, Sardis, Bactra, Babylon, Susa, Sais and Memphis (Briant, Pirre, 274)
 * These states each have there own government and "Kings" (Briant, Pirre, 274)
 * One of the positions is the Chilarch, who is the person who deals with all outside people who wanted an attendance with the king or council (Briant, Pirre, 274)
 * You have to go though him to get a audience with the courts (Briant, Pirre, 274)
 * The Chilarch may also be the second in command to the king and control some of the bureaucracy but many archaeologists/ historians say that this wouldn't make scene because it seems that the king is directly responsible for all the bureaucracy and aristocracy (Briant, Pirre, 275)
 * It seems that there are no set positions in the government and that no one in the government besides the king has a permanent position (Briant, Pirre, 275)
 * The king just picks someone who is particularly loyal, skilled and especially suited to the task to do a task within the courts (Briant, Pirre, 275)
 * One of the kings main worries is making sure everyone is faithful, there is an entire system of award and punishment put in place to assure that everyone is loyal. (Briant, Pirre, 275)
 * The king also spends allot of his time (especially Darius) making sure the rebellions are quelled (Briant, Pirre, 275)

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