The First Empires

1. The First Empires

2. Objectives • Describe Assyria’s rise to power and and its well organized government. • Know how Assyria built a vast empire in Mesopotamia. • Describe the important landmarks built in the Chaldean Empire. • Understand the development of the first calendar by the Chaldeans.

3. Vocabulary • Province • Caravan • astronomer

4. The Assyrians • Assyrians lived North of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • Built a large army and began taking over Mesopotamia about 900 BC.

5. Why were the Assyrians Strong • Had soldiers who used daggers and spears well. • Other soldiers experts at using bows and arrows

6. Why were the Assyrians Strong • Hittites developed ways of making iron stronger • First Army to use iron weapons

7. Why were the Assyrians Strong • Were fearless • Would tunnel under walls or use ladders to go over the top • Used battering rams to knock down gates

8. Why were the Assyrians Strong • Assyrians were ruthless • Resistance to the Assyrians was punished • Assyrians drove people from their lands and occupied the new territory

9. Assyrian Government • Kings had to be strong to rule Assyria • Empire stretched from the Persian Gulf to the Nile River • Kings divided the Empire into Provinces • King chose officials to govern provinces.

10. Assyrian Government • Assyrian kings built roads joining different parts of the empire which were protected by the army from robbers.

11. Life in Assyria • Lawbreakers faced harsh punishment • (Assyrians Blinded their prisoners)

12. Life in Assyria • Assyrians erected large temples • Had exceptional skills as builders

13. Life in Assyria • Produced and collected literature • Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian, literature, documented on cuneiform tablets from Ancient Mesopotamia

14. Life in Assyria • One of the worlds first library was in Nineveh • (Ancient Assyrian library believed to be from the 6th century BC)

15. Assyrian decline • Assyrian cruel treatment of people lead to rebellion. • The Chaldeans revolted in 612 BC and the Assyrian empire fell apart.

16. Chaldeans • Chaldeans built landmarks in Babylon and developed the first calendar with a 7 day week.

17. Nebuchadnezzar • Nebuchadnezzar led Chaldea and controlled most of Mesopotamia from 605 BC to 562 BC about 43 years.

18. Babylon • Most Chaldeans were descendants of Babylonian people during Hammurabi’s time 1200 years earlier.

19. Babylon • Babylon quickly became the world’s largest and wealthiest city for its time.

20. Babylon • Babylonian wall that surrounded the city was wide enough for 2 chariots to pass each other on top.

21. Babylonian Temples and Palaces • Reached more than 300 ft in the air • Kings palace had hanging gardens

22. Babylon • Nebuchadnezzar built the gardens to please his wife

23. Babylon • Artisans made pottery, clothing, baskets and jewelry. • Sold their wares to passing caravans

24. Babylon • Was the center for science • Was instrumental in the study of astronomy • Developed the first sun dials and 7 day calendar

25. The decline of the Chaldeans • The Chaldeans found they had to control other people they conquered and found it difficult. • In 539 BC Persia conquered Babylon

26. Lets Ponder • What different types of skills would the Babylonians need to build the hanging gardens? • Why do you think the Assyrians took people from their land and moved them elsewhere after they conquered them?