The Cyrus Cylinder Is Often Called the World's First Human Rights Charter

When Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon in 539 BC, he issued a declaration inscribed on a clay cylinder allowing people to return to their homelands and practice their own religions freely. The UN has recognized this document as one of the earliest expressions of universal human rights.

Source

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1880-0617-1941

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Published: April 7, 2026
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Iran History & Civilization

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