Chapter 1The First Civilizations

Section 3

The First Empires

Bell Ringer

Imperial Palace at Nippur-Assyrians

Assyrian Empire

Assyrians

The Assyrian empire arose about 1,000 years after the rule of Hammurabi.

The Assyrian army was the first large army to use iron weapons.

Their weapons were stronger than those of copper and tin.

Assyrians

They fought with spears, daggers, bows and arrows, chariots and soldiers on horseback.

Assyrians

The capital of the Assyrian empire was Nineveh.

The empire was divided into provinces, which are political districts.

Each province was governed by an official who collected taxes and enforced laws.

Assyrian War Machine

Assyrians

The Assyrians built large temples and palaces, with statues and wall carvings.

One of the first libraries was in Nineveh and held 25,000 tablets of stories and songs.

People began to rebel because of Assyria’s cruel treatment.

The Chaldeans rebelled and took control of Nineveh in 612 B.C.

Nineveh

Nineveh

Review Questions

How were the Assyrians like other Mesopotamians?

The Assyrians and the Mesopotamians built temples and palaces. Both used art and writing.

Ishtar Gate-Babylon

Chaldeans

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the Chaldeans.

The Chaldeans, who were descendents of Babylonians, rebuilt Babylon.

The city became the center of the Chaldeans’ empire.

The city was surrounded by a huge wall. Inside the wall were palaces, temples, and a huge ziggurat.

ChaldeansNebuchadnezzar ordered the Hanging Gardens to be built for his wife, who missed her green, mountainous homeland.

The Hanging Gardens were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Chaldeans

The Chaldeans were merchants, artisans, and traders.

Babylon was on a major trade route and profited from trade.

Chaldeans

The Chaldeans studied the sky to understand the gods.

Their astronomers (people who study the heavenly bodies) mapped the stars, planets, and phases of the moon.

The Chaldeans lost control of their empire to the Persians.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Hanging Gardens of Babylon-Today

Timeline

Review Questions

What made Babylon the world’s richest city?

Being on a major trade route meant merchants and artisans benefited from trade. The city also had beautiful structures, such as the Hanging Gardens and the Ishtar Gate.

Review Questions

Why was the Assyrian army a powerful fighting force?

It had a well-organized army with advanced weapons.

Review Questions

What were some of the accomplishments of Chaldean astronomers?

They mapped stars, planets, and phases of the moon and created the sundial and seven-day week.

Review Questions

Analyze How did the Assyrians set up a well organized government?

They divided the empire into provinces, and chose provincial officials to collect taxes and enforce laws.

Review Questions

Conclude Why do you think the Assyrians took conquered peoples from their lands and moved them to other places?

Possible answer: It would make it more difficult for conquered people to rise up against the Assyrians.

Cuneiform Tablet

Interesting Facts

Chaldeans in today’s Iraq still speak Aramaic, the language of ancient Babylon.