Final answer:
The Persian king respected for his tolerance towards the customs of conquered people was Cyrus the Great. His policies of leniency and acceptance, such as allowing Jews to return to Judah and utilizing local administrative systems, fostered a benevolent empire that later influenced Alexander the Great.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Persian king renowned for his tolerance of other people's customs, which won him the respect of those he conquered, was Cyrus the Great. His policy of leniency allowed subjects to practice their religions, use their languages, and maintain their customary trading practices. Cyrus was notable for allowing the exiled Jews to return to Judah from Babylon, exemplifying his benevolent leadership style.
Under Persian rule, this tolerance extended to administrative approaches. The Persians used indigenous languages and administrative structures in the lands they conquered, such as hieroglyphic script in Egypt and Babylonian record keeping in Mesopotamia. This multicultural inclusion was depicted in the reliefs from Persepolis and cemented the image of a tolerant and benevolent empire.
Despite being labeled 'barbarians' by the Greeks, the Persians, directed by the king as the earthly representative of the god Ahura Mazda, were quite accepting and respectful of various cultures in their empire. The Persian Empire's legacy of acknowledgment of different faiths and political organizations was so influential that Alexander the Great adopted similar practices upon his conquest of the region, further demonstrating the effectiveness of the Persian system.