Cyropaedia (lit. "The Education of Cyrus"), sometimes considered the masterpiece of Xenophon of Athens, is a fictional biography of Cyrus the Great, who was the most well known conqueror in antiquity prior to Alexander. Xenophon (In Greek , c. ... The Acropolis in central Athens, one of the most important landmarks in world history. ... Tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae Cyrus II the Great (Persian: کوروش کبیر) (about 576 - July, 529 BC) was a king of Persia, famous for his military prowess and mercy. ... Alexander the Great fighting the Persian king Darius (Pompeii mosaic, from a 3rd century BC original Greek painting, now lost). ...

In eight books it follows Cyrus from his education through his ascendency and rule to his death and its effects on his empire. It seems to go beyond the scope of its title, as does Xenophon's other great work, Cyro Anabasis (literally "Cyrus' March Inland"), of which only the first two books deal with the expedition of the younger Cyrus, the rest being devoted to the retreat to the Black Sea of the ten thousand Greek mercenaries under Xenophon's command after the young Cyrus' death. Anabasis is the most famous work of the Greek writer Xenophon. ...

Alternatively, postmodern critics may see a dual sense in the phrase "education of Cyrus", which could mean the education he received or the one he gave, especially since Cyrus' preferred verb seems to be didaskein (to teach) and Xenophon seems concerned primarily with the alterations Cyrus made to Persian society in order to make it fit for empire, which could be described as an education. Postmodernity (also called post-modernity or the postmodern condition) is a term used by philosophers, social scientists, art critics and social critics to refer to aspects of contemporary art, culture, economics and social conditions that are the result of the unique features of late 20th century and early 21st century... Persia and Persian can refer to: the Western name for Iran. ...

Prior to Cyrus, the Persians had been interested only in virtue and justice; he persuaded them to turn their virtue to the task of conquest which led to the accumulation of vast territories but also had enduring negative effects on Persian society, as can be seen in the turmoil following Cyrus' death. In many respects, Shaka Zulu is a comparable figure in respect to his social reforms of Zulu society for the development of military strength. Shaka Shaka (sometimes spelled Chaka) (ca. ...

As may be apparent, the Cyropaedia is less an historical work and more a practical treatise on political virtue and social organization. It was considered a classic on such subject in antiquity and again in the Renaissance; Scipio Africanus is said to have carried a copy with him at all times. The ancients believed that Xenophon composed it in response to the Republic of Plato, or vice versa, and Plato's Laws seems to allude to the Cyropaedia. By Region: Italian Renaissance Northern Renaissance *French Renaissance *German Renaissance *English Renaissance The Renaissance was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation, at the dawn of modern European history. ... Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major (Latin: P·CORNELIVS·P·F·L·N·SCIPIO·AFRICANVS¹) (236 - 183 BC) was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic. ... The Republic is an influential dialogue by Plato, written in the first half of the 4th century BC. This Socratic dialogue mainly is about political philosophy and ethics. ... Statue of a philosopher, presumably Plato, in Delphi. ...

Spenser remarked, in the preface to The Faerie Queene: "For this cause is Xenophon preferred before Plato, for that the one, in the exquisite depth of his judgement, formed a Commune welth, such as it should be; but the other in the person of Cyrus, and the Persians, fashioned a governement, such as might best be: So much more profitable and gratious is doctrine by ensample, then by rule." Edmund Spenser Edmund Spenser (c. ... Una and the Lion by Briton Rivière The Faerie Queene is an epic poem by Edmund Spenser, first published in 1590 (the first half) with the more or less complete version being published in 1596. ...

Beyond this, the Cyropaedia is a story, within which are told sorter stories and romances. Thus it is seen as a precursor to the novel. DeFoes Robinson Crusoe, Newspaper edition published in 1719 A novel (from French nouvelle, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ...