Empires of the Fertile Crescent

1. Empires of the Fertile Crescent

2. Hittites • War-like people from Asia Minor • Invaded Mesopotamia c. 1700 BC

3. (Hittite) Achievements • First to smelt iron • Most important – Law & Government • Only major crimes received the death penalty • People paid fines • Kings were chief-priests • Yet, they allowed religious freedom

4. Hittites • When they invaded, they conquered and looted Babylon (c. 1600 BC)

5. Hittites • Babylon was TOO FAR!! • Only controlled Babylon for a short period of time before withdrawing west • Remained powerful until c. 1200 BC • Entire region began to suffer invasions from the Sea Peoples

7. Assyrians • Semitic-speaking people from northern Mesopotamia • As early as 2000 BC... • Settled city of Ashur on upper Tigris • Adapted many elements of Sumerian culture

8. Assyrians • Dominated by others for centuries • Briefly established an empire in the 1300s • Gradually recovered, then began dominating the area • 900 BC – 650 BC • Expanded from Fertile Crescent into Egypt

9. Assyrians • At height, included all of Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and the Nile River Valley

10. Capital City • Ninevah • Great Wall • HUGE double wall • 70 ft high – some parts were 148 ft thick!! • Stretched 7.5 miles around the city

11. Fall of Assyria • 635 BC – Civil War breaks out • Made it too weak to protect itself • 612 BC - A large group led by the Chaldeans and the Medes captures and destroys Nineveh