#satraps

By Wu Mingren

“The Achaemenid Empire was an ancient empire whose heartland was the region of Persis, in the southwestern part of modern-day Iran. At its greatest extent, the Achaemenids ruled over an empire that stretched from the Indus Valley in the east to the Balkans in the west, and from the Black Sea in the north to the Red Sea in the south. In order to effectively administer this vast empire, the Achaemenid rulers divided their realm into provinces, each of which was governed by a satrap.”

“While these satraps were vital in ensuring the smooth running of the Achaemenid Empire, they were also potential threats to their Achaemenid overlords. When central control was weak, satraps could accumulate power, act independently, and even revolt. Nevertheless, it was a system that worked and continued to be used even after the demise of the Achaemenid Empire.”