1. Today’s Goal: What were the most significant accomplishments of the Assyrians and Chaldeans?

2. Assyrian Geography

3. Assyria’s capital was established at Nineveh Walls of Nineveh Their capital at Nineveh on the Tigris river had a constant supply of fresh water. Tribute and stolen treasures were displayed in this huge capital.

4. Assyrian Society 1)Nobility 2)Artisans 3)Unskilled free workers 4)Serfs (bound to land) 5)Slaves Women had lower position

5. Assyrian Empire

6. Assyrian god – they were polytheistic

7. Assyrian god Assur

8. Nineveh held one of the ancient world’s largest libraries King Ashurbanipal collected 20,000 clay tablets, including the Epic of Gilgamesh, in this library Tablets from his library

9. Flood Tablet found in Assurbanipal’s library

10. Used cuneiform, then later Aramaic

11. Constant warfare Innovations: –Battering ram –Cavalry –Leather & metal armor –Camels for desert warfare –Conscription (draft of soldiers) –Siege tower

12. Assyrian Conquests

13. Assyrian Guardian figure Weighs 30 tons 6 ½ ft high

14. Assyrian carving

15. Assyrian Winged Bull

16. Winged Assyrian Bull

17. Chaldeans and the Medes joined to defeat the Assyrians in 612 BC Why did other people in the region celebrate when the Assyrians were defeated?

20. Capital = Babylon Restored by King Nebuchadnezzar Ruins of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon Nebuchadnezzar

21. Nebuchadnezzar had the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (a garden on top of the palace) built for his wife

22. Hanging Gardens of Babylon

23. Nebuchadnezzar II’s Babylon

24. Parts of Babylon have been rebuilt by Saddam Hussein

25. Rebuilt by Saddam Hussein

26. Iraq

27. Ishtar Gate of Babylon

28. Soldiers

29. Dragon of Marduk on the wall of the Ishtar Gate

30. Lion in Nebuchadnezzar's throne room Design in throne room

31. The Star Gazers of Babylon Priests observed & recorded the night sky Stars determined human destiny, could foretell future They observed the Zodiac, a belt of 12 constellations and the phases of the moon

32. Assyrians formed the basis for both astronomy & astrology.

33. First Historical Horoscope

34. Today’s Goal: What were the most significant accomplishments of the Assyrians and Chaldeans? With a partner, list what you think are the TOP 3 accomplishments of the Assyrians and Chaldeans (be able to explain why).