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Rise and Fall of Mesopotamian Empires

Explore the history of Babylon, Assyria, and Persia in Mesopotamia. Learn about their cultures, accomplishments, and legacies in the ancient Fertile Crescent region.

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Rise and Fall of Mesopotamian Empires

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  1. Reading Check • What does Mesopotamia literally mean? • Where is it located geographically? • What Mesopotamian civilization did you read about last week? (Hint—S.) • Tell me one thing you learned about that civilization. • Name two of the other three empires you read about. (Hint—A, B, P)

  2. Fertile Crescent Empires • Babylon, Assyria, & Persia

  3. Babylonian Empire • Started as city by the Euphrates River in 1900 BCE • Babylon--capital of Babylonian Empire • Under King Hammurabi conquered all of the surrounding cities (including Sumer) to make it the Fertile Crescent’s 1st united empire in 1787 BCE. • Empire-- an area of many territories and peoples that is controlled by one government

  4. Babylonian Culture • Very similar to Sumerian culture • Adopted their religion, literature, inventions, & practices • Became wealthy via trade & agriculture • Trade required them to build roads & bazaars • bazaar--outdoor market place for trading goods • caravan--a group of travelers (Why travel together?)

  5. Babylonian Accomplishments • Hammurabi’s Code--first known, written set of laws, created by King of Babylon during his reign (1792-1750) • Created a useful system of mathematics & astronomy • Math based on numbers from 1-60 • Does this sound familiar? • Allowed them to calculate areas of geometric shapes • Why would this be important for building an empire?

  6. The End of Babylon • All their wealth couldn’t save them from conquest… • They fell to another, growing empire in 1500 BCE.

  7. The Assyrian Empire • Civilization on upper Tigris River in an open plain • Capital—Nineveh • Frequently attacked by invaders • Developed standing army (soldiers who serve in military as their primary job) • By 1365 BCE decided that best defense was a good offense! • They started creating their own empire!

  8. The Assyrian Army • Fierce & cruel warriors • Weapons made of iron (rather than copper or bronze) • Created forts & government to administer conquered cities • First mail service to communicate between cities in empire • Other Advancements: • Trained Horses & Chariots • Archers & Stone Slings • Battering Rams

  9. The Softer Side of the Assyrians • They created a great library with clay tablets from Sumer & Babylon.

  10. Biggest=Best? • By 650 BCE, Empire stretched from The Nile River to the Persian Gulf! (See map on p. 39 in textbook.) • Captured enemies (murdering or enslaving them), plundered & looted cities, & demanded taxes (tributes) from the vanquished. • The Assyrians were widely hated. • Several revolt attempts • Medes & Chaldeans overthrew them in 612 BCE.

  11. Babylon’s Back, Baby! • What city rose out of the ashes of Nineveh? • The Chaldeans made the city of Babylon their new capital. • This time around their most important king was Nebuchadnezzar II • Ruled from 605-562 BCE • Babylon grew strong under him

  12. More Babylonian Accomplishments • Center of Math & Science • Astronomy so accurate could calculate length of year to within minutes of modern methods! • Started domesticating honey bees (Why?)

  13. Reasons to Remember Babylon: • Huge wall surrounding the city • Beautifully decorated • Towers for guards • 4-Horse Chariot-wide • Famous Gate of Ishtar

  14. Reasons to Remember Babylon: • Hanging Gardens of Babylon • Built by Nebuchadnezzar • Beautifully decorated • Roof-top tropical gardens • In the middle of the desert • 1 of 7 Wonders of the Ancient World • Why? Let’s find out...

  15. This Time Babylon Falls & Stays Down • Nebuchadnezzar is succeeded by his son in 562 BCE, but he’s assassinated just three years later. • Within a few years, new empire invades

  16. The Persian Empire • (539-330 BCE)

  17. The Persian Empire • Located east of Fertile Crescent (modern-day Iran & Afghanistan) • People were Indo-Europeans called Aryans (source of Iran’s name) • Started in 550 BCE by Persian province ruler named Cyrus the Great (550-330 BCE) • United Medes & Persians into a strong army and later a kingdom

  18. The Persian Empire • Army of archers & cavalrymen conquered most of ancient world (See map on p. 39) • Turkey • India • Egypt • Unlike Assyrians, they were benevolent: • Freed Jews • Treated conquered fairly & kindly (did force tributes) • Allowed them to maintain culture

  19. Ruling the Biggest Empire • Emperor Darius I (522-486 BCE) set up system to organize the empire: • Divided into 20 provinces • Each managed by governors • Judges & Tax Collectors appointed • Surprise inspectors • Well paved roads which led to international trade

  20. Bureaucracy • complex structure of government offices needed to govern a vast empire or nation (negative connotation)

  21. Zoroastrianism • the official religion of the Persian Empire • had one supreme god who made world, sun, moon & stars • What is this kind of religion called?

  22. The Persian Empire Lasted • until Alexander the Great conquered it in 330 BCE

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