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The First Empires

The First Empires. The Assyrians. About 1000 years after Hammurabi, a new empire arose known as the Assyrians. Assyria had fertile valleys that attracted outside invaders To defend their land, the Assyrians built a large army Around 900 BC, they began taking over the rest of Mesopotamia.

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The First Empires

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  1. The First Empires

  2. The Assyrians About 1000 years after Hammurabi, a new empire arose known as the Assyrians

  3. Assyria had fertile valleys that attracted outside invaders To defend their land, the Assyrians built a large army Around 900 BC, they began taking over the rest of Mesopotamia The Assyrians

  4. Why were the Assyrians so strong? • Their army was well organized • There were foot soldiers • Even had chariot riders and soldiers who fought on horseback

  5. Why were the Assyrians so strong? • They were the first army to use iron weapons • much stronger than in previous years

  6. Why were the Assyrians so strong? • Assyrians warriors attacked cities by tunneling under walls or climbing over them • Also used tree trunks as battering rams on the city gates

  7. Why were the Assyrians so strong? • Once they took the city, they would burn the buildings and carry away the people and goods • Next they brought in new settlers and forced them to pay heavy taxes

  8. The Assyrian capital was in Nineveh Assyrian kings divided the empire into provinces Political districts A Well-Organized Government

  9. A Well-Organized Government • Officials were chose to govern each province • They collected taxes and enforced the king’s laws • Road were also built to join all parts of the empire

  10. Life in Assyria • One of the world’s first libraries was found in Nineveh • Holding over 25,000 tablets of stories and songs to the gods • Much is known of ancient civilizations because of this library

  11. Rebellion • Assyrian’s cruel treatment of people led to many rebellions • In 612 BC, a group of people known as the Chaldeans captured Nineveh, and the empire soon crumbled

  12. Led by king Nebuchadnezzar, the Assyrians controlled all of Mesopotamia from 605 BC – 562 BC. The Chaldeans

  13. The City of Babylon They rebuilt the city of Babylon as the center of their empire Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens (one of the Seven Wonders of the World)

  14. The City of Babylon • Babylon was also a center of science • There were astronomers; people who studied the moon, stars, and planets • The Chaldeans made one of the first sundials and were the first to have a seven-day week.

  15. Why Did the Empire Fall? • In 539, the Persians from the northeast captured Babylon. • Mesopotamia became a part of the new Persian Empire

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