Question

geography skillbuilder: interpreting maps

1. region what part of the ancient world did cambyses add to the persian empire?
2. region compare the map of the persian empire with that of the assyrian empire on page 96. what areas did the persians rule that the assyrians did not?

provinces and satraps although darius was a great warrior, his real genius lay in administration. to govern his sprawling empire, darius divided it into 20 provinces. these provinces were roughly similar to the homelands of the different groups of people who lived within the persian empire. under persian rule, the people of each province still practiced their own religion. they also spoke their own language and followed many of their own laws. this administrative policy of many groups - sometimes called
ationalities\ - living by their own laws within one empire was repeatedly practiced in southwest asia.
although tolerant of the many groups within his empire, darius still ruled with absolute power. in each province, darius installed a governor called a satrap (say - trap), who ruled locally. darius also appointed a military leader and a tax collector for each province. to ensure the loyalty of these officials, darius sent out inspectors known as the \kings eyes and ears\.
two other tools helped darius hold together his empire. an excellent system of roads allowed darius to communicate quickly with the most distant parts of the empire. the famous royal road, for example, ran from susa in persia to sardis in anatolia, a distance of 1,677 miles. darius borrowed the second tool, manufacturing metal coins, from the lydians of asia minor. for the first time, coins of a standard value circulated throughout an extended empire. people no longer had to weigh and measure odd pieces of gold or silver to pay for what they bought. the network roads and the wide use of standardized coins promoted trade. trade in turn, helped to hold together the empire.

Explanation:

1. By observing the map, we can see that Cambyses added Egypt to the Persian Empire.
2. Comparing with the Assyrian Empire map (not shown here but based on general knowledge), the Persians ruled areas like parts of Central - Asia (such as Bactria, Sogdiana) and the Indus River region that the Assyrians did not.

Answer:

1. Egypt
2. Parts of Central - Asia (e.g., Bactria, Sogdiana) and the Indus River region