Persian rulers divided their vast empire into provinces called satrapies. Each satrapy was governed by a satrap, who was appointed by the king and was responsible for the administration of the province, the collection of taxes, and the maintenance of order. The satrapies were further divided into districts, which were governed by district governors. The district governors were responsible for the collection of taxes and the maintenance of order within the districts. The Persian Empire was a highly centralized state, and the satraps and district governors were directly responsible to the king. This system of government allowed the Persian Empire to maintain control over its vast territory and to ensure the loyalty of its subjects.