1. Section #4: The Rise of New Empires
Objective: Discuss the rise and the fall of the Assyrian and Persian Empires

2. A Mighty Military Machine
850 BC, the Assyrians advanced from the northern part of Mesopotamia
Open area, Little protection
Relied on military strength for defense from outside attack
Assyrian Empire stretched from north and east of the Tigris river to Egypt
Development of Weapons
Armor, Weapons, Organization
Sennacherib
First great Assyrian ruler
Claimed to have sacked 89 cities, 820 villages

3. Assyrian Rule 650 BC Organization of conquered areas into empire
Height of rule
Fell by 612 BC
Organization of conquered areas into empire
Divided into regions
Assyrians choose rulers
Taxes and Tribute
What happen if a region didn’t pay?

4. Assyrian Culture
Assyrian Kings were great builders, not just destroyers
Nineveh
Capital city
Ashurbanipal
Great warrior
Could read many languages
Library
25,000 clay tablets

5. Nebuchadnezzar Chaldean King of Babylon (604-562BC)
Restoration of Babylon
Euphrates through the city
Walls
4 Horse Chariot could ride on top
Hanging gardens of Babylon
Made for homesick wife
75 feet above the ground
Hydraulic pumps
Babylon fell after Nebuchadnezzar's death to the Persian Empire

6. Rise of the Persian Empire (559 BC -330 BC)
Cyrus
Ruled from BC
Military genius, but great Administrator
Method of governing
Kindness to conquered people
Religiously tolerant (opposite of the Assyrians)
Darius ( BC)
Created an effective style of administration
Empire reached its greatest extent
Return to toleration and Cyrus’ style of rule

8. Provinces and Royal Road
Darius was a great warrior, but his genius was governing
20 provinces
Darius still ruled with absolute power
Satraps (gov’s)
Kings eyes and ears
Tax collectors
Royal Road
“Interstate 95”
Ran across the Persian empire
1,677 mile long
111 posts (Rest Stations)
15 miles apart
Messenger
7 days
Increased trade and communication throughout the empire