1. The New Near Eastern Empires
The Assyrians
The Babylonians

2. Assyrian Background
An old kingdom populated by Semitic people from about 2,000 BCE
Later subject to the Mitanni
Gained independence in the 14th century BCE
Continued as a small Semitic kingdom north of Babylon
9th emerged as a powerful state

3. The Initial Rise of Assyria
9th century Assyria was ruled by ambitious kings with a peasant militia
Quickly gained power in Mesopotamia
Numerous raids for plunder brought them to the Mediterranean and later raids pushed their sphere of influence into Syria
By the mid-9th c., they reached Israel and Judah

4. Shalmaneser III Pushed deep into Judea
Threatened the Kingdom of Israel
Jehu listed in an inscription as a “Son of Omri” was forced to pay tribute
Shown bowing before the king
Jehu known in the Bible (I Kings 19:16-17; II Kings 9:1-29; II Kings 10:1-29)

5. The Black Obelisk

6. A Period of Decline 800-750 BCE saw a series of weak kings
Numerous rivalries among Assyrian cities
Great disorder due to the 763 eclipse
Major rival: Urartu in the north
Block access to metals, especially copper
Lack of natural resources drove the Assyrians to conquest

7. A Revived Assyria Pushed eastward to gain copper from Cyprus
Pushed south in Lebanon for cedar
Pushed into Cilicia for silver
This was no longer mere raiding, but true conquest. Rapid expansion through Palestine into Egypt
Notable kings appear in the Hebrew Bible

8. Conquests and Kings
Tiglath-Pilesar III ( ) pushed back the Urartians, conquered Babylon, and push westward
Shalmaneser V ( ) Captured and destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel
Sargon II ( ) fought against the Cimmerians and died in 705
Developed an imperial government with a bureaucracy

9. The Assyrian Empire

10. Government and Military
Built a remarkable army with the chariot, cavalry, light and heavily armored infantry, slingers, and siege equipment
Even had an engineering corps
Developed a bureaucracy with court records in cuneiform
Also collected literature from all over their realm
Remarkable artwork

11. Dying Lioness

12. Siege of Lachish

13. Victorious Assyrian Soldiers

14. Assyrian Relief and Helmet

15. Assyrian Sculpture and Ivory

16. Later Kings Sennacherib (704-681): threatened King Hezekiah
Esarhadden ( ) pushed all the way to Egypt, and collected tribute from the Medes and Persians
Ashurbanipal ( ) The empire reached its greatest extent
But collapsed at his death quickly

17. Why the Fall? Probably over extended territory
Brutality caused a rise in Median and Babylonian nationalism
Assyrians used ineffective mercenaries and conscripts instead
Egypt, then Babylon gained independence
Babylon and the Medes destroyed the capital Ninevah in 615

18. The Neo-Babylonians Known as the Chaldeans A Semitic people once again
Created a brief but powerful empire
A true revival of older Amorite Babylonian culture which had been subjected to the Kassites, the Mittani, and finally the Assyrians
Destroyed Jerusalem 586 BCE

19. Independence from Assyria
Babylonian leaders engaged in a series of unsuccessful revolts in 652 and 648 BCE
They recognized the weaknesses of Assyria
Gained independence after the death of Ashurbanipal in 626 BCE
Nabopolassar defeated the Assyrians with the help of the Medes and destroyed Ninevah in 612 BCE.

20. Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE)
Defeated the final forces of Assyria
Defeated the Egyptians (Saite Dynasty) but did not occupy Egypt
Controlled Syria and Palestine
594 BCE Defeated Jerusalem and deported notable citizens to Babylon
586 BCE Jerusalem rebelled and was destroyed. Much of the remaining was population deported to Mesopotamia

21. The Great City of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar was a great builder
Babylon had 8 miles of walls
Famous for the Ishtar Gate
One of the Seven Wonder of the World: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
A brief zenith for Babylonian Civilization
Time of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Esther in exile

22. The Fall of Babylon
Nabonidis ( ) believed to be insane or a religious fanatic
Became a devotee of the moon god Sin
Neglected the kingdom and disappeared from months at a time in the Arabian Desert
Would build oasis shrines to his god
Persians grew in power
When Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539, the people welcomed him as a liberator!

23. Images from the Ishtar Gate

24. Ishtar Gate Reconstruction at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin

25. Hanging Gardens of Babylon