Neo-Babylon/ Chaldean

Mesopotamia Map

General Information City-State in Ancient Mesopotamia Between the Euphrates and Tigris Present day Iraq 626 BCE to 539 BCE

General Information Cont. Neo-Babylonian Era was called Chaldean Followed Assyrian Empire Persian Empire followed it “Holy City” From Babilu – “gateway of the gods”

Babylon’s Rulers Ruler Reigned Nabopolassar 626 - 605 BCE Nebuchadnezzar II 605 - 562 BCE Amel- Marduk 562 - 560 BCE Nergal-sharezer 560 – 566 BCE Labashi-Marduk 566 BCE Nabonidus 556- 539 BCE

Nabopolassar Overthrew Assyrian Empire First King of Babylon

Nebuchadnezzar II Etemenaki Ziggurat Ishtar Gate Hanging Gardens Wife Amyitis

Advancements Many old temples were rebuilt- 50 Babylon was restored New buildings created- Ishtar Gate Hanging Gardens

Advancements Turned into one of the world’s greatest cities One of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” created

Advancements Double walls Moats Great Ziggurat

Social Institutions Family- Education- Patriarchal society Men were more powerful than women Education- Established formal schools Mainly taught reading and writing

Social Institutions Cont. Economic systems- Were the first to have an economic system Government- Had 6 kings Had complete control

Social Institutions Cont. Religion- Believed in many gods Polytheists Many references were made in the bible

Human Environmental Interactions Modify- They built plows to soften the land on which they grew plants Depend- Most food was grown in the Fertile Crescent

Human Environmental Interactions Cont. Adapt- Some land was dry, caused the creation of irrigation

Impact of Ideas Influenced Homer and Hesiod- famous Greek poets Geometry Astronomy Heraldry Babylonian Talmud

Cooperation and Conflict Invasions by the Aramaeans Settled down Aramaic language replaced Babylonian

Babylon’s Exile King Nebuchadnezzar- Temple of the Lord King Jehoiachin exiled Babylon Evilmerodach put in prison

The Fall of Babylon Belshazzar’s drunken feast Conquered by Cyrus (a general of Darius ) 100 years earlier Gods had stated their downfall

Cultural Development Astronomy & astrology Created zodiac “the entire universe was created in relation to the Earth”

Cultural Developments Cont. Sexagesimal number system. (60) 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour Pythagorean theorem

Economics & History Agriculture Foreign trade, exported items Imported items they didn’t have Sumerians had influence on Babylon’s irrigation & agriculture

Economics and History Cont. Palaces and temples - economic institutions. Things paid in silver Goods varied in price based on the need and supply

Law and Justice Shamash Witness Oaths Punishments “lex talionis”

Mesopotamia Greek for land between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Northern= rich, fertile plains Southern Mesopotamia= marshy and barren plains.

Old-Babylon first dynasty of the Babylonians first code of laws came into play king set up a burracuecy, taxation, and centralized government

Neo-Babylon The last strong Assyrian ruler died Babylonians rebelled by 612 B.C. they regained control of the empire

Religion a form of polytheism Believed each god had specific role Each city in the Babylonian empire worship a certain god They were worship at the cities ziggurat

Nabopolassar King of Babylon From 626- 604 BCE With the help of the king of Medes he conquered Assyria Father of King Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar Son of Nabopolassar Stormed leftover Assyrian forces in Egypt Captured the Israelites and held them in Babylon Built the Hanging Gardens, Gates and tower of Babylon

Capture of the Jews Jehoikim threatened Babylon Nebuchadnezzar attacks Judah Deports all Jews to Babylon

The Creation of Judaism Had a lot of extra time while in Babylon Jewish Rabbis could write down and bless their writings These essays became parts of the Torah and the Bible’s Old Testament

Babylonian Achievements The Tower of Babel. Man made it for himself not God. God saw and gave many different languages to stop them. They stopped building it.

Babylonian Achievements cont. The wall of Babylon. Two walls 25 ft. thick and 150 ft. tall. 250 towers 450 ft. tall.

Changing Ideas The Babylonian citizens were liberal and accepted the Jewish religion. Many even believed in the Jews religion.

Impact of Ideas Babylonians had their own gods but also accepted the Jewish god. Many learned to read and write so they quickly learned religion

Development of Culture Polytheists Cuneiform Used ideas from Hammurabi’s code Monarchy Kings, nobles, free citizens, then slaves for social Hierarchy Developed Intricate calendar Geometry and Algebra

Interactions with other Civilizations Nabopolassar conquered what was left of the Assyrians Nebuchadnezzar captured the Jews They partially accepted the Jews culture

Fall of Babylon In 539 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon In 331 BC, Alexander the Great conquered Mesopotamia and brought forth Greek rule there They built new cities and Babylon among other old cities became insignificant

Impact of Babylon today Today Babylon is a place for tourism The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the ancient 7 wonders of the world

The Neo-Babylonian Empire 626-539 BCE Started with the revolt of Nabopolassar Attacked the Assyrians First king of this Empire Fell to Cyrus the Great Ruler of Persia

Location! Then: Now: City-state of ancient Mesopotamia Present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq “The Middle East”

Location! Lies between Tigris and Euphrates in the Fertile Crescent

Continuity and Change Gained Independence from Assyrian rule Rebelled under Nabopolassar when Ashurbanipal died This was the start to the Neo-Babylonian Empire Brought change for Babylonians Ashurbanipal

Cultural Development Writing and Literature Oldest written texts were in simple pictograms Legal, administrative, and epistolary (letters)

Cultural Development Astronomy Precise astronomical observations Created 12-month calendar Kept records of eclipses A list of eclipses between 518 and 465 BCE

Individuals in History Nabopolassar Led Babylonia in revolt against Assyrians Began the Neo-Babylon Era Nebuchadnezzar II Ruler of Babylon Constructed Hanging Gardens Conquered Judah and Jerusalem

Individuals in History Nabonidus Last king of Babylon Created religious differences in Babylon Persians conquered Babylon

Economics and History High taxes/tributes for buildings and armies Hanging Gardens Documented Original “Seven Wonders of the World”

Technology and History Canal System Made land more fertile Increased trade Kept clay tablets to record astronomical observations

Impact of Ideas Mathematics Medicine 60 second minute and 60 minute hour 360 degree circle Medicine Written text of medical symptoms Advances in medicine

Social Institutions Religion Government Cities- have one god that is their overseer or main god Polytheism Worship in Ziggurat Government Social classes Upper (priests and traders) Middle (farmers and clerks) Low (slaves)

Human-Environmental Interaction Tigris and Euphrates provided many natural resources Fertile soil for crops Mud brick houses Built a huge wall around the city

Cooperation and Conflict Attacked Judah (states along the Levant) Invaded and captured Jerusalem Destroyed city and temple 13 year long conflict with Tyre Under rule of Nebuchadnezzar II Declined after this ruler