1. Babylonians and Assyrians

2. Empires
Unlike the city-states of Sumer, Babylonia & Assyria were considered empires
An Empire is an area of many territories and people that are controlled by one government or king.
Babylonia & Assyria were the two largest and most important Mesopotamian civilizations.

3. Different Eras (year spans)
Babylonian Empire about 1800 – 1600 B.C.
Reached it’s height (its largest & most powerful point around 1750 B.C
Capital called Babylon
Assyrian Empire about B.C.
Began taking over land in 1300 B.C. height was at about 600 B.C.
Capital called Nineveh

4. What did they have in common?
Quest for riches
Vicious warriors
Built grand cities
Culture & learning were highly valued

5. Hammurabi
Strong King
Created Bablyonian empire by uniting the cities of Sumer.
Created a code that seemed equal (eye for an eye), but really wasn’t because of class and wealth (we’ll talk later)

6. Babylonian Wealth Location, Location, Location…
It was at a crossroads of trade
Caravans (groups of travelers) would stop there going north and south
Trade in the bazaars (city markets)
Bigger, harder, faster stronger…
Wealth through conquest
If you beat someone, you now own and control all of their goods & resources

7. Assyrians They were to the North of Babylonia
Became skilled warriors (because they were always under attack)
About 1350 B.C., they decided the best defense was a good offense; they began acquiring land.
Eventually overtook the Babylonians

8. Assyrian – great warriors
Invented the battering ram – a heavy weapon on wheels that could smash city walls to bits
Archers were protected with helmets & armor
Armed charioteers were feared & highly skilled

9. Assyrians – more than warriors
Nineveh became a city of great learning
Had a library that had thousands of clay tablets with writings from Sumer & Babylon (Babylon also had a large & famous library)
We know about life in Mesopotamia because of the surviving tablets.

10. Assyrians overthrown
The lands that the Assyrians conquered were not friendly to them, even though they were now in the Assyrian empire.
Chaldeans rebelled in 612 B.C. and defeated the Assyrian Empire.

11. Nebuchadnezzar and the new Babylonian Empire
King of the Chaldeans
Rebuilt Babylon
Became a center of learning and science
“Hanging Gardens” of Bablyon
Astronomy, 360 degree circle, 365 days in a year
Cultivated wild bees
Defeated in 539 B.C., but Babylon is spared