110 likes | 321 Views
Military Empires. 1400 B.C. – 570 B.C. Assyrians. Assyria: kingdom from Persian Gulf to Tigris to Egypt Loved war b/c of geography (hills & valleys) Shepherds & farmers had to learn to protect land. Assyrian Army Well organized & strong warriors w. foot soldiers & charioteers
E N D
Military Empires 1400 B.C. – 570 B.C.
Assyrians • Assyria: kingdom from Persian Gulf to Tigris to Egypt • Loved war b/c of geography (hills & valleys) • Shepherds & farmers had to learn to protect land
Assyrian Army • Well organized & strong warriors w. foot soldiers & charioteers • Iron Weapons were powerful (from the Hittites) • Cruel warriors • Spread fear, destruction, and death • Attacked cities using various methods • Set fire to buildings • If you resisted rule, you were punished
Kings & Government • Fought battles & punished enemies • Ashubanipal (King): created one of world’s first libraries • Divided empire into provinces & selected gov. to rule • All provinces were connected by roads for trade • 612 B.C.: capital captured by Chaldeans
Chaldeans • Called themselves Babylonians • Conquered as far west as Syria & Palestine under King Nebuchadnezzar • Capital = Babylon • World’s richest city w. police force, postal system, walls, palaces, temples, and gold • Ziggurat famous for “hanging gardens”
Street near palace served as passage for Pilgrims to seek gold statue of Marduk to make their crops grow • Trade made Babylon rich • Center of Science • Astronomers studied stars, moon, planets • Created 1st sun-dial • 1st to have 7 day week • 539 B.C. captured by Persians
Persians • Moved to area between Persian Gulf & Caspian Sea (2000 BC) & Egypt to India • Today known as Iran & Iranians • Country divided into large farms owned by nobles • Built irrigation systems b/c of lack of water
Cyrus made army grow to hundreds of thousands • Immortals • Best fighters whose # never dropped below 10,000 • Led Persians into battle • Mild rulers: let ppl keep own religion, laws, language • Darius (King) • Built palace-fortress in capital Persepolis
Spoke Aramaic – used by Eastern traders • Divided land into 20 provinces • Government Gov., Secretary, General Inspectors Judges • Collected Taxes • Protected people • Kept each other honest • Checked rumors of rebellion • Saw if ppl could pay taxes • Make sure King’s laws were carried out
Family Life • Houses had pointed roofs & porches facing the sun • Families were large & father’s word was law • At age 5, slaves took care of children • Rich women lived sheltered lives, while poor women had more freedom but worked harder
Religion • Zoroaster taught about 2 Gods • Ahura: all good things in world • Ahriman: all evil things in world • Pplhad to decide which god they supported • Trade • Were warriors, farmers, shepherds • Thought trade taught ppl to lie, cheat, steal • Improved & expanded the system of roads built by Assyrians • Royal Road • Route to China for silk • Spread idea of using coins for $ • Got from Lydia & used for trade