Cyrus the Great was a highly effective leader who founded the massive Persian Empire through strategic military campaigns and policies of religious tolerance that prevented revolts. He established a centralized government and administration that unified a large empire and influenced future civilizations.
Cyrus the Great came to power in Persia in 559 BC and quickly set about expanding his empire through strategic military campaigns. He conquered the Median Empire in 549 BC and the Lydian Empire just two years later, making the Persians the dominant power in the region. Cyrus demonstrated his brilliance as a military strategist by finding weaknesses to exploit in both empires