Little Kourosh, in the warm embrace of his mother Mandane, spent his days observing his surroundings with curious and intelligent eyes. While his body was still confined to infancy, having seen only five springs, his mind soared freely, immersed in the history books of his former life in the twenty-first century. Images and concepts flowed from his eidetic memory like a clear river, especially those related to the towering figure of Cyrus the Great, the true founder of the Achaemenid Empire. He recalled how Cyrus the Great had based his entire policy on tolerance and magnanimity towards his defeated enemies, and on respecting their customs and religions. This approach, in a world where violence, plunder, and religious and cultural intolerance were rampant, was unprecedented and revolutionary. It helped him to rule over a diverse group of people, with various cultures and languages, and to win their loyalty.
Amidst these deep contemplations, the concept of Cyrus the Great's intelligence and prudence impressed him more than anything else. Little Kourosh knew well that his predecessor was not just a capable military leader who conquered fields with his sword and the strength of his arm, but that he acted with unparalleled prudence, cunning, and intelligence. Instead of direct and bloody assaults that only led to destruction, he relied on complex strategies, precise timing, and diplomacy. This intelligence was evident in his approach to his conquests, especially in the capture of Babylon, where he took the city without widespread bloodshed and refrained from destruction and plunder. This method stood in stark contrast to ruthless empires like Assyria, which were known for violence, slaughter, and devastation, and only planted fear in the hearts of people.
One of the most prominent features of Cyrus the Great was his avoidance of destruction and plunder after conquering cities. This characteristic, in Little Kourosh's mind, distinguished him from all previous conquerors and gave him a unique place in history. Instead of razing conquered cities to the ground, Cyrus the Great focused on administering and stabilizing the empire. He divided the newly conquered regions into semi-autonomous satrapies, each of which could maintain its own customs, local laws, and even religion, as long as they remained loyal to the central government and paid their taxes. This approach not only led to relative stability and satisfaction among the vanquished peoples but also allowed Cyrus, as the founder and first "King of Kings" of the powerful Achaemenid Empire, to leave behind a stable and lasting legacy; a legacy built on coexistence and tolerance.
Little Kourosh also thought deeply about Cyrus the Great's beliefs and religious approach. Cyrus the Great adopted a policy of unparalleled religious tolerance. He allowed the people under his rule to worship and live according to their own will, provided they paid their taxes to the central government. This policy, unlike the approach of ruthless empires like the Assyrians who imposed their own religion and disrespected the gods of conquered nations, allowed them to easily attract people and prevent religious rebellions. This approach was not only politically astute but also showed his deep insight into the diversity of beliefs and respect for individual freedoms.
In the conquest of Babylon, Cyrus not only captured the city without bloodshed but also presented himself as a representative of Marduk, the great god of the Babylonians. This act demonstrated his deep understanding of and respect for the beliefs of the people of Babylon. He restored the priests of Marduk to their former positions, returned confiscated idols to their temples, and attended to the needs of the people. He also freed thousands of Jews who had been exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar and returned them to Jerusalem. Cyrus even provided them with financial assistance to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem. For this reason, he is the only non-Jew to be called a "messiah" in the Jewish faith. These actions demonstrated his deep respect for the beliefs and religious freedoms of the conquered nations, which was an astonishing and unprecedented phenomenon in that historical era and set him apart from other conquerors.
The debate over Cyrus's personal religion also occupied Little Kourosh's mind. He knew that historical sources do not directly link Cyrus's personal religion to any specific faith like Zoroastrianism, and no inscription from him mentions Zoroaster. The ancient Iranians worshiped the "gods of the natural world, water, fire, earth, and above all, the sky," and Ahura Mazda was their principal god. It is likely that Cyrus followed a form of polytheism or henotheism; that is, a belief in one greater god (like Ahura Mazda) and several "subordinate deities" who served him. His tolerance of other religions can be attributed to this religious inclusivity of polytheism, unlike monotheism, which can sometimes lead to religious wars and intense fanaticism. This was an important lesson for Little Kourosh for the future of his empire.
Little Kourosh then contemplated how his predecessor had shown the courage to pursue justice in a world of conquest and destruction, where power was defined by violence and cruelty. The Cyrus Cylinder, known as the "first charter of human rights" in the world, is a testament to Cyrus's justice-oriented approach. This clay cylinder records his decrees, which include freeing people from slavery, rebuilding ruined houses, returning the gods of the people to their sacred places, and allowing everyone to worship freely. These words and actions, in an era when slavery and tyranny were rampant and conquerors enslaved the vanquished, were astonishing and revolutionary, and they immortalized Cyrus's name in the history of humanity forever.
Cyrus's approach to conquest was vastly different from previous empires like Assyria. The Assyrians were known for violence, massacres, beheading prisoners, forced deportations, and the destruction of cities and temples, planting fear in the hearts of people. In contrast, Cyrus's conquest of Babylon was accomplished without widespread bloodshed, and instead of destruction, he focused on development and reconstruction. This showed that Cyrus's understanding of power was not in destruction and terror, but in intelligent administration and the creation of stability and contentment in his vast realm. He was called a "warrior," not a "conqueror," meaning he did not necessarily initiate wars but acted in response to attacks, like the Lydian invasion, or to complete a "historical mission," like the conquest of Mesopotamia. This perspective emphasizes his intelligence, which focused on management and cooperation instead of pointless bloodshed.
At the end of his contemplations, Little Kourosh concluded that to build his thousand-year empire, he must place these principles at the heart of his government. He knew that with his twenty-first-century knowledge, he could elevate this philosophy of justice, tolerance, and intelligence to its peak. He intended to establish a system in which power was based not on fear, but on the consent of the people; an army that was not only the guardian of the borders but also an arm of construction; and a society in which knowledge and wisdom were the guides for life and progress. These contemplations were his roadmap for turning Iran into a shining jewel in the history of humanity.