I need each of these 8 questions answered each with a thesis statement and evidence to back it up: How did the Persian Empire (especially under Darius) employ methods of hard and soft power? Be sure...

1. How did the Persian Empire (especially under Darius) employ methods of hard and soft power? Be sure to define hard and soft power and to use examples of administrative techniques, infrastructural investments, religious policies, imperial ceremonies, and political monuments (for the last two be sure to discuss the Behistun relief and Persepolis).
Persian Empire under the Darius employed methods of hard and soft power by organizing the empire into 20 provinces and appointed governor for each of them. These governors had authority to collect tax, act as judge, and exercise military powers. Hard power is the one executed by economic inducements as well as military threats and is mostly based on the tangible sources like army, economic strength, administrative techniques etc whereas soft powers are the persuasive powers working on intangible resources and are generally derived from emulation, attraction such as culture, religious policies, imperial ceremonies etc. Darius reformed tax system wherein tax amount for each province was based on wealth and production. As law code was issued applicable to all empire’s residents. He also allowed freedom to governors to manage provinces but kept a check on their power in form of inspectors. Behistun relief or text are the pieces of propaganda establishing right of Darius to rule which were carved out on political monuments. Also these monuments and specifically during imperial ceremonies, Persepolis were used which were the seat of Empire.
2. In what ways did religious beliefs and practices in Shang China, Aryan India (of the Vedic period, not Indus), Mesopotamia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt define and reinforce social and gender inequalities? Do you find these four cultures more similar or different in their beliefs and practices?
Shang china had combination of spiritual control, shamanism, animism, respect, worship and divination of dead ancestors along with sacrifice. There different gods represented various mythological and natural symbols. Similarly, Aryan India of Vedic period worshiped numerous gods with sacrifice and practiced many rituals wherein they were really careful to remain ritually pure as per varna. Mesopotamians were polytheistic; they worshipped several major gods and thousands of minor gods. Also, Egypt culture was full of polytheistic people believing god and goddesses control forces of natural, human as well as supernatural world. These 4 cultures were quite same in their beliefs and practices. They tend to define and reinforce social as well as gender inequalities too. With their beliefs, men were looked as having high rights and had high regard socially and had specific roles whereas women were looked important in ritualistic side, caretakers of children and were expected to do specific gender roles.
3. Compare and contrast the Indian concept of dharma from the perspective of Siddhartha and the early Buddhists and the Mauryan emperor Ashoka Maurya (third century BCE). Be sure to consult Siddhartha’s first sermon (“Setting in Motion Wheel of Law”) and Ashoka’s rock edict 13.
Buddhism considers dharma as cosmic law and order which is applied to teachings of Buddha and can be applied to mental constructs cognized by mind. For Buddhists, dharma is phenomena. For Siddhartha’s first sermon, dharma is setting in motion wheel of law, dharma is associated directly with the karma of individual. On other hand, Asoka’s rock edit 13 and as per Ashoka Maurya, Dharma is not a religious practice or faith or royal policy. But it is generalized form of social behavior and activities, Asoka tried to synthesize various social norms using dharma. Thus, Ashoka’s concept of dharma was very different and...