Question

What were the responsibilities of the satrap?

Answer 1

The satrap's duties in the Persian Empire included governing their satrapy by collecting taxes, maintaining order, overseeing local matters, and ensuring loyalty to the king while being monitored by other officials to prevent abuse of power.

Step-by-step explanation:

The responsibilities of the satrap in the ancient Persian Empire encompassed several key administrative, political, and military roles. As royal governors of satrapies — the governing districts — satraps were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining law and order, managing local affairs, and ensuring the loyalty of the regions under their control. They operated with significant autonomy but were kept in check by the 'eyes and ears of the king,' roaming officials who could conduct audits and report directly to the king. Furthermore, satraps were advised by military generals who reported to the king, establishing a balance of power. The satraps' vast lands and their courts underscored their influential status within the empire but they were ultimately accountable to the Persian king, facing serious consequences such as removal or execution if they failed in their duties or loyalty.

Answer 2

A statrap was a governor of a province. His task was that of an administrator and had a royal court. He had several responsibilities such as collect taxes, controlled local officials and subjects, judge criminal cases, created roads and protected the territories from bandits and other threats. A satrap was assisted by a council of Persians and was under the rule of a royal secretary and envoys of the king who were the king’s eye and who conducted annual inspections and carried out permanent control.