Empires of the Fertile Crescent

Hittites War-like people from Asia Minor Invaded Mesopotamia c. 1700 BC

(Hittite) Achievements First to smelt iron Most important – Law & Government Only major crimes received the death penalty People paid fines Kings were chief-priests Yet, they allowed religious freedom

Hittites When they invaded, they conquered and looted Babylon (c. 1600 BC)

Hittites Babylon was TOO FAR!! Remained powerful until c. 1200 BC Only controlled Babylon for a short period of time before withdrawing west Remained powerful until c. 1200 BC Entire region began to suffer invasions from the Sea Peoples

Assyrians Semitic-speaking people from northern Mesopotamia As early as 2000 BC... Settled city of Ashur on upper Tigris Adapted many elements of Sumerian culture

Assyrians Dominated by others for centuries Briefly established an empire in the 1300s Gradually recovered, then began dominating the area 900 BC – 650 BC Expanded from Fertile Crescent into Egypt

Assyrians At height, included all of Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and the Nile River Valley

Capital City Ninevah Great Wall HUGE double wall 70 ft high – some parts were 148 ft thick!! Stretched 7.5 miles around the city

Fall of Assyria 635 BC – Civil War breaks out Made it too weak to protect itself 612 BC - A large group led by the Chaldeans and the Medes captures and destroys Nineveh