Final answer:
The Persians notably embraced a multicultural empire without forcing their subjects into adopting Persian culture, as long as they remained loyal and paid taxes. They advanced an efficient system of governance and taxation, and supported their military might with a lenient approach to conquered peoples, except in mobilizing for war such as during the Persian Wars.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Persian Empire's Practices
The Persians did several things during their rule, including minimal taxation, utilizing an efficient system of governing subject states, and allowing conquered people to maintain much of their culture and autonomy, as long as they paid taxes and provided military support when necessary. Notably, they did not make it a practice to involve themselves in the transformation of their subject peoples into Persian culture; they had no interest in making their diverse subjects adopt Persian languages or religions. Instead, they established an empire that embraced multiculturalism, with a variety of ethnic groups, languages, and religions.
When examining the achievements and administrative strategies of the Persian Empire, it is evident that they achieved military might through conquests by leaders like Cyrus and Xerxes. They had an elite army known as the "Immortals", but otherwise generally mobilized armies only in times of war. Their attempts to expand westward included invasions of Greece, but these were met with resistance and ultimately failed. The Persians also recognized the importance of displaying a kind of benevolent rule, granting freedoms to their subjects such as the right to return to their homeland and rebuild their temples, as was the case with the Jewish population in Babylon.
The Persian Wars, driven by the Persian expansion and conflict with Greece, showcased their military capabilities and the limits of their empire's reach. The notable aspects of the Persian Empire such as their diverse acceptance, innovative taxation, and employment of monumental architecture and art to convey their power further highlight the sophistication of their imperial system.