Which statement BEST describes how rulers such as Cyrus the Great and Darius were able to rule the diverse and expansive Persian (Achaemenid) Empire of the 500s and 400s BCE?

A. Persia permitted Christian groups to worship freely.
B. Persian military forces drafted all men under 30 into service.
C. Persia allowed conquered areas to rule themselves on local matters.
D. Persian armies crushed all possible resistance to prevent future rebellions.

The best statement that describes how rulers like Cyrus the Great and Darius were able to rule the massive and diverse Persian Empire during the 500s and 400s BCE is: C) Persia allowed conquered areas to rule themselves on local matters.

Cyrus the Great began by restructuring the Persian state and its military, leading to the overthrow of the Median dynasty and the defeat of the Neo-Babylonians by 539 BCE. The Empire was then extended under Cyrus's successor, Cambyses II, to include Egypt and regions stretching to India's edges.

When Darius I came to power, he reorganized the empire into twenty districts referred to as satrapies, each having its own satrap or governor. This system of local governance allowed for the control of such a large and culturally varied empire. Moreover, the rulers did not force their subjects to adopt Persian culture or religion. As a result, this approach helped maintain a stable, multilingual, and multiethnic empire.

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