How were the Israelites treated by Persian rulers?

The Persian Empire, under rulers like Cyrus the Great, showed a remarkable degree of tolerance towards the Israelites. They allowed the Judeans who had maintained their culture during the Babylonian exile to return to Judah and rebuild their temple, expecting loyalty and the payment of tribute in return. The Persians were strategic in their rule, allowing various cultures within the empire to retain their identities, fostering loyalty and local autonomy, while maintaining control.

Explanation:

The Israelites, or Judeans, were among the many ethnicities and religions incorporated into the Persian Empire under the rule of the Persian king Cyrus II and his successors. While the empire was centered on Zoroastrianism, its policy remarkably supported the maintenance of a diverse, multiethnic, and multireligious society. As a policy, the empire demanded loyalty and the payment of tribute but did not impose a common Persian identity on its subjects.

Despite the Israelites' forced exile to Babylon, a significant number of them managed to retain their cultural and religious beliefs. When Persia conquered Babylonia, Cyrus the Great allowed those who had maintained their Judean culture the freedom to return to Judah and partake in rebuilding their temple. This act was not only a sign of the Persian Empire's tolerance but also its strategic approach to ruling a diverse empire. In return, the empire expected loyalty and the payment of tribute.

The rulers of Persia advanced policies to incorporate the cultural elites of conquered territories into their governance, fostering both loyalty and a degree of local autonomy. They thus maintained a mindful balance between control and autonomy that proved their empire to be one of the longest-lasting and most influential empires of the ancient world. With respect to the Judeans, this policy manifested in the freedom to practice their religion and retain their cultural identity, as well as the permission to return to their homeland and rebuild their temple. This degree of tolerance was unprecedented in the ancient world and serves as a testament to the strategic wisdom of Persian rulers.

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