Iron, Weapons, and Chariots Iron Age Empires Iron, Weapons, and Chariots

Do Now: How would you react if the population of Bronx Science increased 50% and other students from different schools came into our classrooms? How would you accommodate the additional students?

Rise and Fall of Empires Southern Mesopotamia Babylonians Neo- Babylonians Northern Mesopotamia Assyrians Neo-Assyrians Mesopotamia United Persian

Hammurabi —Successful general —Defeated Sumerians and Akkadians around 1760 B.C.E —Created one of the first empires by uniting Mesopotamia under one ruler

Height of Babylonian Empire Engaged in great public works: built opulent temples and strong canals, improved the irrigation process, and heightened city walls —Strongly encouraged astronomy, mathematics, and literature among the elite social classes Made diplomacy an integral part of his administration United all of Mesopotamia under the rule of Babylon - the largest city in the world, and named his realm Babylonia by 1775 BC

The Code of Hammurabi codified by Hammurabi first code of laws in ancient civilizations used to bring order to the empire contained the concepts of “an eye for an eye” or “lex talionis” established rules for common issues to organize society

Hammurabi’s Code —282 total laws —- Written around 1786 B.C.E —- Carved in forty-nine columns of stone tablets called stele —- Created standards for behavior —- Created punishments —They were posted in the cities’ temples —Written in cuneiform

Do Now: To what extent do you believe that Hammurabi’s code was justified? Why is that the case?

The Hittites inhabited region of Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey) prior to 1700 BCE, developed a culture apparently from the indigenous Hatti (and possibly the Hurrian) people expanded their territories into an empire which rivaled, and threatened, the established nation of Egypt.

Fall of Babylon 1600 BC the Hittites reach and destroy Babylon at the hand of their king Mursilis I before retreating again to their Anatolian heartland 14th century BC they march again to establish an empire which reaches into northern Syria, east of the Euphrates, and extends down the Mediterranean coast to confront the Egyptians

Question: Make some predictions, why were the Hittites so successful in defeating the Babylonians?

Hittites use of iron 2000 B.C. the Hittites developed Iron weapons in northern Asia Minor, a region rich in iron they had learned to extract iron from ore - they were the first to make tools and weapons of iron the tools and weapons they made with iron were harder and had sharper edges than those made out of bronze or copper iron was plentiful and they were able to arm more people at less expense

Use of Iron A Hittite king writes to a valued customer about his order for iron. The letter is probably addressed to a king of Assyria: 'In the matter of the good iron about which you wrote, good iron is not at present available in my storehouse in Kizzuwatna. I have already told you that this is a bad time for producing iron. They will be producing good iron, but they won't have finished yet. I shall send it to you when they have finished. At present I am sending you an iron dagger-blade.' Quoted H.W.F. Saggs Civilization before Greece and Rome, Batsford 1989, page 205

Chariots The first reference to charioteers in the civilized world comes from Syria around 1800 BCE Hittites established their first kingdom with the help of chariots c. 1700 BCE, and thereafter used them regularly Very decisive in battle against the opposition

Question How did the use of the chariot help the Hittites win decisive battles?

Assyrians (700-612 BC) •Semitic-speaking people •Used iron weapons to establish an empire •Ruled by kings with absolute power •Well-organized •Officials developed an efficient communication system •Created one of the world’s finest libraries at capital Nineveh: Ashurbanipal

Neo- Assyrians Successfully conquered a massive territory spanning from Egypt to the Persian Gulf Effective military Assyrians had the first large armies equipped with iron weapons Used guerilla warfare, various siege tactics, and terror Conquered territories paid a tribute to the Assyrian king

Harsh Military Tactics If people refused and were defeated they were treated harshly. King Ashurnasirpal once stated “3,000 of their combat troops I felled with weapons . . . Many I took alive; from some of these I cut off their hands to the writs, from others I cut off their noses, ears and fingers; I put out the eyes of many of the soldiers. . . . I burned their young men and women to death.”

Fall of the Neo-Assyrians Assyria’s collapse was relatively sudden had 
overextended itself in the conquest of Egypt, unable to bear the heavy toll in resources and manpower In 612 BC, Nineveh fell to a joint coalition of Chaldeans and Medes under Nebuchadnezzar, who established the Neo-Babylonian Empire (612-539 BC).

Neo-Babylonians 626 -539 BCE Neo-Babylonian art and architecture reached its zenith under King Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled from 604 - 562 BC He was a great patron of art and urban development and rebuilt the city of Babylon to reflect its ancient glory. He built the Hanging Gardens - a spectacular tiered garden that became one of the 7 wonders of the world

Nebuchadnezzar’s rule Women enjoyed equal rights schools and temples were plentiful and literacy, mathematics and craftsmanship flourished tolerance of religion and other faiths

Rise of the Persian Empire Neo-Babylonian leadership weakened over time mainly due to changing alliances with Assyrians and Jews wanting to return to their homeland in Israel Cyrus II (reign: 559-530 BCE), also known as Cyrus the Great, was the founder of the Persian empire October 539 BCE he took Babylon, founded and extends the Persian Empire freed 40,000 Jews from captivity wrote mankind's first human rights charter ruled over those he had conquered with respect and benevolence

Cylinder of Cyrus the Great The Cyrus cylinder was discovered in 1878 at the site of Babylon inscribed in Akkadian cuneiform "I am Cyrus, king of the world, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world" established peace and abolished forced labour supported Jews returning to their homeland describes the Great King not as a conqueror, but as a liberator

Questions: How did Cyrus’ human rights charter engender a sense of loyalty among those he conquered? How does this compare to the policies of the Assyrians and Babylonians?