The First Empires

The Assyrians- 650 B.C.-950m B.C. Warrior Society – well organized military Large army of foot soldiers Archers- experts with bow and arrow Chariots Horse soldiers Used tunneling Ladder systems for scaling fort walls Battering rams Total war- destroyed enemies crops and food

Government Large empire- from the Persian Gulf to Egypt’s Nile river Strong Kings Divided lands into Provinces Collected taxes Enforced laws Built roads Provided protection- stations -for soldiers and also government messengers

Assyrian Accomplishments Well organized and trained army Writing – record keeping of all events Laws- similar to Hammurabi’s code, but punishments were much more brutal and cruel Buildings – many large temples and palaces(carvings and statues were common) Literature- large collection , one of the world’s largest libraries in Nineveh

Chaldeans - King Nebuchadnezzar Harsh treatment causes rebellion in Assyria Chaldeans( descendants of Babylonians) join and Assyrian empire crumbles Rebuild Babylon – becomes the center of the empire

Babylon Surrounded by a wall wide enough so two chariots could pass

Hanging Gardens

Chaldean Accomplishments Babylon’s walled city 300 ft ziggurat in center of Babylon- tower of Babel Hanging Gardens Mapping of stars and planets Using the phases of the moon – seasons 7 day week Sundail