1.3 The Persian Empire (536 - 331 B.C.) During this period of world history, it was common for there to be one, single world power. Up until 536 BC, it had been the Babylonians (Babylon is modern day Iraq). These empires would rule (often by brutal force) over other ethnic and religious groups Babylon was famous for its culture – these hanging gardens were part of that. In the background you can see the Tower of Babel

One of these groups were the Persians. They had a new ruler named Cyrus, who mobilized his people to challenge the Babylonians for world supremacy…and they were ultimately successful in doing so by 536 BC

Cyrus and the Persians had a different view of governing. They believed it was better to let conquered peoples (like the Babylonians) to keep their religious and cultural traditions. Cyrus

This view of leadership was also beneficial to the Jewish people because their religious traditions were very important to them. Under the Persians, many Jews returned to live in their homeland (Palestine and Jerusalem). These stories are recorded in the O.T. books of Ezra and Nehemiah