Section 2 Babylonia and Assyria

Two Empires of Mesopotamia The person who conquered Mesopotamia gained great wealth from trade and agriculture The person who conquered Mesopotamia gained great wealth from trade and agriculture As a new ruler won the land, they became a target As a new ruler won the land, they became a target Empire-Area of many territories and peoples that is controlled by one government Empire-Area of many territories and peoples that is controlled by one government Biggest empires were Babylonia and Assyria Biggest empires were Babylonia and Assyria

Babylonia and Assyria Babylon-Beautiful city at the center of the empire Babylon-Beautiful city at the center of the empire Reached height around 1750 BC Reached height around 1750 BC Assur- Assyrian capital Assur- Assyrian capital Expanded lands in 1300 BC Expanded lands in 1300 BC By 600 BC controlled a large empire By 600 BC controlled a large empire Two things in common- Quest for riches, vicious warriors Two things in common- Quest for riches, vicious warriors Built grand cities- Culture and learning were highly valued Built grand cities- Culture and learning were highly valued

Babylonia Hammurabi- Creator and King Hammurabi- Creator and King United cities of Sumer United cities of Sumer Conquered the lands all the way to present day Turkey Conquered the lands all the way to present day Turkey Created a system of roads through the empire Created a system of roads through the empire Travel was easier and encouraged trade Travel was easier and encouraged trade Crossroads of trade- Caravans or groups of travelers traveling from cities of Sumer in the south and Assyria to the north Crossroads of trade- Caravans or groups of travelers traveling from cities of Sumer in the south and Assyria to the north

Babylonia Bazaars-markets- shoppers could buy cotton cloth from India and spices from Egypt Bazaars-markets- shoppers could buy cotton cloth from India and spices from Egypt Trade made Babylon rich Trade made Babylon rich So did Conquest So did Conquest

Wealth through Conquest A conqueror, if successful, could be greatly rewarded A conqueror, if successful, could be greatly rewarded 1760 BC Hammurabi conquered Mari, which had the best war weapons, chariots, and tools 1760 BC Hammurabi conquered Mari, which had the best war weapons, chariots, and tools That didn’t prevent it from being conquered in 1600 BC That didn’t prevent it from being conquered in 1600 BC

Assyria Originally small kingdom of a few walled cities Originally small kingdom of a few walled cities Like, Babylon, grew to great empire Like, Babylon, grew to great empire Lay in open land, so they were easy to invade Lay in open land, so they were easy to invade Since they were constantly being attacked they became skilled warriors Since they were constantly being attacked they became skilled warriors By 650 BC they had conquered a very large empire which stretched across the Fertile Crescent, From the Nile river to the Persian Gulf by attacking all the lands around them By 650 BC they had conquered a very large empire which stretched across the Fertile Crescent, From the Nile river to the Persian Gulf by attacking all the lands around them

Assyria’s Contributions Invented the battering ram- very powerful wooden beam mounted on the wheels which pounded the city to rubble Invented the battering ram- very powerful wooden beam mounted on the wheels which pounded the city to rubble Slings- hurled stones at enemies Slings- hurled stones at enemies Expert archers were well protected with armor Expert archers were well protected with armor Armed Charioteers- very violent, very feared Armed Charioteers- very violent, very feared

Assyrian Education Nineveh, the capital- place of great learning Nineveh, the capital- place of great learning Remarkable library held thousands of clay tablets with writing from Sumer and Babylon Remarkable library held thousands of clay tablets with writing from Sumer and Babylon It is the reason we know so much about the Mesopotamian Culture It is the reason we know so much about the Mesopotamian Culture

Defeat of Assyria Had many enemies Had many enemies The Medes and Chaldeans joined forces to defeat the Assyrian Empire in 612 B.C. The Medes and Chaldeans joined forces to defeat the Assyrian Empire in 612 B.C. What were the strengths of the Assyrian Empire? Skilled warriors with advanced techniques in war, capital was center of learning What were the strengths of the Assyrian Empire? Skilled warriors with advanced techniques in war, capital was center of learning

Babylonia Rises Again Babylon rose again under Chaldeans rule Babylon rose again under Chaldeans rule Became Center of New Babylonian Empire Became Center of New Babylonian Empire King Nebuchadnezzar II-rebuilt city King Nebuchadnezzar II-rebuilt city Put up massive walls for protection Put up massive walls for protection Gigantic palace decorated with colored tiles Gigantic palace decorated with colored tiles Palace on several terraces that rose over 350 feet total Palace on several terraces that rose over 350 feet total

Advances in Learning Babylonia center of learning and science Babylonia center of learning and science Chaldean astronomers charted paths of the stars and measured the length of a year Chaldean astronomers charted paths of the stars and measured the length of a year The measurement was only a few minutes different than modern day time The measurement was only a few minutes different than modern day time Raised Honey Bees Raised Honey Bees Still open to attack-539 B.C. fell to Persians Still open to attack-539 B.C. fell to Persians

Questions What were Babylonia and Assyria and where were they located? What were Babylonia and Assyria and where were they located? Important Mesopotamian Empires located in southeast Asia Minor Important Mesopotamian Empires located in southeast Asia Minor Describe the empires of Babylonia and Assyria Describe the empires of Babylonia and Assyria Babylonia united the cites of Sumer and stretched to Asia Minor or Turkey. Great military power and center of trade Babylonia united the cites of Sumer and stretched to Asia Minor or Turkey. Great military power and center of trade Assyria- skilled warriors, stretched across Fertile Crescent, from Nile to Persian Gulf. Capital Nineveh- City of great learning Assyria- skilled warriors, stretched across Fertile Crescent, from Nile to Persian Gulf. Capital Nineveh- City of great learning