Chapter 3iii
Empire Builders
Although the Phoenicians,
Aramaens, Lydians, and
Israelites gave the world
alphabets, religion,
commerce, and language,
they had weak military
power compared to their
neighbors.
Around 2000 BC, the Hittites
conquered several Middle Eastern
cultures using light chariots and
sound strategy. In 1595 BC, the
Hittites conquered Babylon. The
Empire lasted until 1200 BC.
The Assyrians (from northern
Mesopotamia) were subject to
constant attacks. In response, they
grew stronger than their enemies
and destroyed many of them. They
treated defeated peoples harshly.
Nice
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The Assyrians built their capital
at Nineveh. They built an
infrastructure for their Empire,
but despite the improvements,
the people under them still
rebelled. The Chaldeans and
the Medes defeated the
Assyrians in 612 BC.
The Chaldeans
•Followed the Assyrians.
•Ruled by Nebuchadnezzar:605-562
•Enslaved Israelites (Bab.exile)
•Built Hanging Gardens in Babylon
•Defeated by the Persians in 539 BC
Artist’s
rendition
of the
Hanging
Gardens
of
Babylon
The Persians gained territory
and power under King Cyrus in
the 540’s BC. He and his son
conquered Mesopotamia, Syria,
Canaan, Phoenician cities,
Lydia, Greek city-states, and
Egypt! (That’s all of the
Middle East!)
The furthest extent of the Persian
Empire went from the Nile river in
Egypt to the Indus River in India
and encompassed 50 million people.
The best organizer
among all Persians
was Darius I (~500
BC). He divided
his kingdom into
smaller provinces
called satraps with
local governors
ruling them.
Darius’ son, Xerxes was defeated by
the Greek city-states in 480, ending
their expansion. Persia will be
remembered as one of the most
powerful nations ever, but they were
overshadowed by the Greeks and
Macedonians.
•2000 Hittites
•1900 Israelites
For those of
you keeping
track:
•1200 Assyrians/Israelites leave
Egypt
•1100 Phoenicians
•1000 Israelites establish capital at
Jerusalem
•722 Babylonian Exile
•612 Chaldeans
•605 Nebuchadnezzar rules Babylon
•600 Lydians
•540 Persians
•530 Israelites return to Jerusalem
•522 Persians conquer Egypt
•480 Xerxes defeated by Greeks
We have gained a lot from each of
these civilizations: language,
alphabet, laws, commerce, art, and
stuff...