I thought that I would share a TED Talk on the Cyrus Cylinder. I’m using this video and having the students of my World History I class read the text of the cylinder to discuss the Persian Empire and Cyrus the Great. We are looking at Empires (Roman, Chinese, Alexander the Great’s, etc.) and the difficulties encountered with how to run such a large political unit. The cylinder gives students some ideas on how to rule over an ethnically, culturally, and religiously diverse area. You never know one of my students might have to run an empire someday –most likely in the business world. The other cool thing about the cylinder is that the original is on exhibit in Los Angeles at the Getty Museum in Malibu. If you have never been to the Malibu Getty, it is really worth a visit. Here is information: http://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/