1. The First Empires

2. The Assyrians
About 1000 years after Hammurabi, a new empire arose known as the Assyrians

3. The Assyrians
Assyria had fertile valleys that attracted outside invaders
To defend their land, the Assyrians built a large army
Around 900 BC, they began taking over the rest of Mesopotamia

4. Why were the Assyrians so strong?
Their army was well organized
There were foot soldiers
Even had chariot riders and soldiers who fought on horseback

5. Why were the Assyrians so strong?
They were the first army to use iron weapons
much stronger than in previous years

6. Why were the Assyrians so strong?
Assyrians warriors attacked cities by tunneling under walls or climbing over them
Also used tree trunks as battering rams on the city gates

7. Why were the Assyrians so strong?
Once they took the city, they would burn the buildings and carry away the people and goods
Next they brought in new settlers and forced them to pay heavy taxes

8. A Well-Organized Government
The Assyrian capital was in Nineveh
Assyrian kings divided the empire into provinces
Political districts

9. A Well-Organized Government
Officials were chose to govern each province
They collected taxes and enforced the king’s laws
Road were also built to join all parts of the empire

10. Life in Assyria
One of the world’s first libraries was found in Nineveh
Holding over 25,000 tablets of stories and songs to the gods
Much is known of ancient civilizations because of this library

11. Rebellion Assyrian’s cruel treatment of people led to many rebellions
In 612 BC, a group of people known as the Chaldeans captured Nineveh, and the empire soon crumbled

12. The Chaldeans
Led by king Nebuchadnezzar, the Assyrians controlled all of Mesopotamia from 605 BC – 562 BC.

13. The City of Babylon
They rebuilt the city of Babylon as the center of their empire
Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens (one of the Seven Wonders of the World)

14. The City of Babylon Babylon was also a center of science
There were astronomers; people who studied the moon, stars, and planets
The Chaldeans made one of the first sundials and were the first to have a seven-day week.

15. Why Did the Empire Fall?
In 539, the Persians from the northeast captured Babylon.
Mesopotamia became a part of the new Persian Empire