1. The First Empires

2. Objectives
Describe Assyria’s rise to power and and its well organized government.
Know how Assyria built a vast empire in Mesopotamia.
Describe the important landmarks built in the Chaldean Empire.
Understand the development of the first calendar by the Chaldeans.

3. Vocabulary
Province
Caravan
astronomer

4. The Assyrians Assyrians lived North of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Built a large army and began taking over Mesopotamia about 900 BC.

5. Why were the Assyrians Strong
Had soldiers who used daggers and spears well.
Other soldiers experts at using bows and arrows

6. Why were the Assyrians Strong
Hittites developed ways of making iron stronger
First Army to use iron weapons

7. Why were the Assyrians Strong
Were fearless
Would tunnel under walls or use ladders to go over the top
Used battering rams to knock down gates

8. Why were the Assyrians Strong
Assyrians were ruthless
Resistance to the Assyrians was punished
Assyrians drove people from their lands and occupied the new territory

9. Assyrian Government Kings had to be strong to rule Assyria
Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Nile River
Kings divided the Empire into Provinces
King chose officials to govern provinces.

10. Assyrian Government
Assyrian kings built roads joining different parts of the empire which were protected by the army from robbers.

11. Life in Assyria Lawbreakers faced harsh punishment
(Assyrians Blinded their prisoners)

12. Life in Assyria Assyrians erected large temples
Had exceptional skills as builders

13. Life in Assyria Produced and collected literature
Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian, literature, documented on cuneiform tablets from Ancient Mesopotamia

14. Life in Assyria One of the worlds first library was in Nineveh
(Ancient Assyrian library believed to be from the 6th century BC)

15. Assyrian decline Assyrian cruel treatment of people lead to rebellion.
The Chaldeans revolted in 612 BC and the Assyrian empire fell apart.

16. Chaldeans
Chaldeans built landmarks in Babylon and developed the first calendar with a 7 day week.

17. Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar led Chaldea and controlled most of Mesopotamia from 605 BC to 562 BC about 43 years.

18. Babylon
Most Chaldeans were descendants of Babylonian people during Hammurabi’s time 1200 years earlier.

19. Babylon
Babylon quickly became the world’s largest and wealthiest city for its time.

20. Babylon
Babylonian wall that surrounded the city was wide enough for 2 chariots to pass each other on top.

21. Babylonian Temples and Palaces
Reached more than 300 ft in the air
Kings palace had hanging gardens

22. Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar built the gardens to please his wife

23. Babylon Artisans made pottery, clothing, baskets and jewelry.
Sold their wares to passing caravans

24. Babylon Was the center for science
Was instrumental in the study of astronomy
Developed the first sun dials and 7 day calendar

25. The decline of the Chaldeans
The Chaldeans found they had to control other people they conquered and found it difficult.
In 539 BC Persia conquered Babylon

26. Lets Ponder
What different types of skills would the Babylonians need to build the hanging gardens?
Why do you think the Assyrians took people from their land and moved them elsewhere after they conquered them?