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Western Asia 39 from this western boundary eastward almost to India (see map, p. 30). The great task had consumed just twenty-five years since the overthrow of the Medes by Cyrus. 55. Organization of the Persian Empire by Darius. The organization of this vast empire, stretching from the Indus River to the ;gean Sea (almost as long as the United States from east to west) and from the Indian Ocean to the Caspian Sea, was a colossal task. Though begun by Cyrus, it was carried through by Darius the Great (521-485 B.C.). His organization was one of the most remark- able achievements in the history of the world. For the system introduced by Darius not only established government on a larger scale than the world had ever seen before, This sumptuous and ornate architecture of the Persians is made up of patterns borrowed from other peoples and combined COLONNADES OF THE PALACE OF THE PERSIAN KINGS AT PERSEPOLIS but it was govern- ment controlled by one man. Darius did not desire further conquests. He had himself made actual king in Egypt and in Babylonia. The rest of the Empire he divided into twenty provinces, each called a "satrapy." Each province was under the control of a governor, or " satrap," who was appointed by the "Great King," as the Persian sovereign came to be called. The subject nations, or provinces, enjoyed a good deal of independence in their local affairs as long as they