The New Near Eastern Empires The Assyrians The Babylonians

Assyrian Background An old kingdom populated by Semitic people from about 2,000 BCE Later subject to the Mitanni Gained independence in the 14th century BCE Continued as a small Semitic kingdom north of Babylon 9th emerged as a powerful state

The Initial Rise of Assyria 9th century Assyria was ruled by ambitious kings with a peasant militia Quickly gained power in Mesopotamia Numerous raids for plunder brought them to the Mediterranean and later raids pushed their sphere of influence into Syria By the mid-9th c., they reached Israel and Judah

Shalmaneser III Pushed deep into Judea Threatened the Kingdom of Israel Jehu listed in an inscription as a “Son of Omri” was forced to pay tribute Shown bowing before the king Jehu known in the Bible (I Kings 19:16-17; II Kings 9:1-29; II Kings 10:1-29)

The Black Obelisk

A Period of Decline 800-750 BCE saw a series of weak kings Numerous rivalries among Assyrian cities Great disorder due to the 763 eclipse Major rival: Urartu in the north Block access to metals, especially copper Lack of natural resources drove the Assyrians to conquest

A Revived Assyria Pushed eastward to gain copper from Cyprus Pushed south in Lebanon for cedar Pushed into Cilicia for silver This was no longer mere raiding, but true conquest. Rapid expansion through Palestine into Egypt Notable kings appear in the Hebrew Bible

Conquests and Kings Tiglath-Pilesar III (745-727) pushed back the Urartians, conquered Babylon, and push westward Shalmaneser V (727-722) Captured and destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel Sargon II (722-705) fought against the Cimmerians and died in 705 Developed an imperial government with a bureaucracy

The Assyrian Empire

Government and Military Built a remarkable army with the chariot, cavalry, light and heavily armored infantry, slingers, and siege equipment Even had an engineering corps Developed a bureaucracy with court records in cuneiform Also collected literature from all over their realm Remarkable artwork

Dying Lioness

Siege of Lachish

Victorious Assyrian Soldiers

Assyrian Relief and Helmet

Assyrian Sculpture and Ivory

Later Kings Sennacherib (704-681): threatened King Hezekiah Esarhadden (681-668) pushed all the way to Egypt, and collected tribute from the Medes and Persians Ashurbanipal (668-626) The empire reached its greatest extent But collapsed at his death quickly

Why the Fall? Probably over extended territory Brutality caused a rise in Median and Babylonian nationalism Assyrians used ineffective mercenaries and conscripts instead Egypt, then Babylon gained independence Babylon and the Medes destroyed the capital Ninevah in 615

The Neo-Babylonians Known as the Chaldeans A Semitic people once again Created a brief but powerful empire A true revival of older Amorite Babylonian culture which had been subjected to the Kassites, the Mittani, and finally the Assyrians Destroyed Jerusalem 586 BCE

Independence from Assyria Babylonian leaders engaged in a series of unsuccessful revolts in 652 and 648 BCE They recognized the weaknesses of Assyria Gained independence after the death of Ashurbanipal in 626 BCE Nabopolassar defeated the Assyrians with the help of the Medes and destroyed Ninevah in 612 BCE.

Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE) Defeated the final forces of Assyria Defeated the Egyptians (Saite Dynasty) but did not occupy Egypt Controlled Syria and Palestine 594 BCE Defeated Jerusalem and deported notable citizens to Babylon 586 BCE Jerusalem rebelled and was destroyed. Much of the remaining was population deported to Mesopotamia

The Great City of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar was a great builder Babylon had 8 miles of walls Famous for the Ishtar Gate One of the Seven Wonder of the World: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon A brief zenith for Babylonian Civilization Time of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Esther in exile

The Fall of Babylon Nabonidis (555-539) believed to be insane or a religious fanatic Became a devotee of the moon god Sin Neglected the kingdom and disappeared from months at a time in the Arabian Desert Would build oasis shrines to his god Persians grew in power When Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539, the people welcomed him as a liberator!

Images from the Ishtar Gate

Ishtar Gate Reconstruction at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin

Hanging Gardens of Babylon