Transcript Assyrians and Babylonians Chapter one Section 3

Assyrians and Babylonians
Chapter one Section 3
Assyria
• Located in northern Mesopotamia near the
Tigris River
• 900 B.C. began taking over Mesopotamia
Assyria
• Capital – Nineveh (on Tigris River)
• Provinces – empire was divided into
political districts called provinces
• Roads – Assyria had a great system of
roads
Why were the Assyrians so strong?
• Well organized
• Learned how to make iron stronger from
the Hittites (better weapons)
• Fierce invaders
• Well organized government
Life in Assyria
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Babylonian writing
Babylonian gods
Bigger punishments
Large temples and palaces
One of the world’s first libraries was in
Nineveh
Assyrian king hunting a lion
The Chaldeans
• 627 B.C. Chaldeans joined the Medes
• Together they fought back and put an end
to the Assyrian Empire
• Capital – Babylon
• Famous king - Nebuchadnezzar
Babylon
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Largest and richest city
Surrounded by large brick wall
Large palaces and temples
Ziggurat
Hanging Gardens
Babylon, the Hanging Gardens, and the Tower of Babel
Babylon
• Located on trade route between
Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf
• Caravans – groups of traveling merchants
Babylon
• Center of science
• Astronomers – studied stars, planets, etc.
Babylon
• Made the first sundials (to tell time)
• Made the 7 day week
The Fall of Babylon
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Weak leaders
Poor harvests
Decreased trade
Captured by Persians in 539 B.C.