The Empires of Assyria and Babylon Course Materials

Session 6: The Neo-Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian Empires

We’ll explore the rise and fall of these powerful Mesopotamian civilizations, their innovations in governance, military strategies, and architectural marvels. Delve into the reigns of iconic rulers such as Tiglath-Pileser III and Nebuchadnezzar II, examining their conquests, cultural achievements, and contributions to the ancient world. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of the political dynamics, economic systems, and societal structures that defined these empires and their enduring legacy in world history. 

Outline

A.     The Neo-Assyrian Empire

1.  Exercise of Assyrian Power

           a. Tiglath-Pileser III

           b. Shalmaneser V

           c. Sargon II

           d. Sennacherib

           e. Esarhaddon

           f. Ashurbanipal

2.  Neo-Assyrian Society and Culture

           a. The King, Crown Prince, and Queen

           b. Non-Royal Social Classes

           c. The Army

           d. Administration of the Empire

           e. Art, Literature, and Science          

B.   The Neo-Babylonian Empire

1. Destruction of Assyria

2. Formation of the Empire

3. The End of the Empire

4. Neo-Babylonian Culture

           a. Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon

           b. Commerce and Finance

           c. Scholarly Activity

Key Terms

Tiglath-Pileser III

Ashurbanipal

Nebuchadnezzar II

Nabonidus

Exercises:

1.  Memorize the meanings of the key terms from this chapter.

2.  Compare the description of events in Sennacherib’s Annals with that of the Second Book of Kings. Think about how they are both similar and different and what the actual situation may have been like.

3.  Compare the description of events in the Cyrus Cylinder with that of the Nabonidus Chronicle. Think about how they are both similar and different and what the actual situation may have been like.

Sennacherib’s Annals (early 7th century BCE)           

As for Hezekiah, the Judean, who did not submit to my yoke, I laid siege to forty-six of his strong walled cities and to countless small villages in their vicinity and conquered them by means of beaten-earth ramps which allowed me to bring battering-rams near the walls combined with assault by infantry and breeches, tunneling, and sapper operations. I drove out of them 200,150 people, young and old, male and female, as well as innumerable horses, mules, donkeys, camels, large and small cattle, and considered them spoils of war. [Hezekiah] himself I made a prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage. I erected earthworks around the city to prevent the escape of any who tried to leave by the city gate. I terminated his jurisdiction over his towns which I had plundered and gave them to Mitinti, king of Ashdod, Padi, king of Ekron, and Sillibel, king of Gaza, and so reduced his territory. Nevertheless, in addition to his former annual tribute, I increased the amount of tribute to be given as katru-presents due to me as his overlord. Hezekiah himself, over­whelmed by the terror-inspiring splendor of my lordship and deserted by the irregular and elite troops which he had brought in to strengthen Jerusalem, his royal city, later sent me in Nineveh, my lordly city, 30 talents of gold, 800 talents of silver, precious stones, antimony, large blocks of red stone [carnelian?], beds and chairs inlaid with ivory, elephant hides, ivory tusks, ebony-wood, boxwood, all kinds of valuable treasures, as well as his daughters, concubines, male and female musicians. He sent a personal messenger to deliver the tribute and render homage as a slave.

2 Kings 18:13-16; 19:35-36 (6^th century BCE)

Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house. At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.

And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when they arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh. 

Cyrus Cylinder (538 BCE)

Marduk, the great lord, who nurtures his people, saw with pleasure his fine deeds and true heart, and ordered that he should go to Babylon He had him take the road to Tintir (Babylon), and, like a friend and companion, he walked at his side. His vast troops whose number, like the water in a river, could not be counted, were marching fully-armed at his side.  He had him enter without fighting or battle right into Shuanna; he saved his city Babylon from hardship. He handed over to him Nabonidus, the king who did not fear him. All the people of Tintir, of all Sumer and Akkad, nobles and governors, bowed down before him and kissed his feet, rejoicing over his kingship and their faces shone. The lord through whose help all were rescued from death and who saved them all from distress and hardship, they blessed him sweetly and praised his name.

Nabonidus Chronicle (late 6^th century BCE)

In the month of Tašrîtu, when Cyrus attacked the army of Akkad in Opis on the Tigris, the inhabitants of Akkad revolted, but he massacred the confused inhabitants. The fifteenth day [12 October], Sippar was seized without battle. Nabonidus fled. The sixteenth day, Ugbaru, the governor of Gutium, and the army of Cyrus entered Babylon without battle. Afterwards, Nabonidus was arrested in Babylon when he returned there. Till the end of the month, the shield carrying Gutians were staying within Esagila but nobody carried arms in Esagila and its buildings. The correct time for a ceremony was not missed. In the month of Arahsamna, the third day [29 October], Cyrus entered Babylon, green twigs were spread in front of him - the state of peace was imposed upon the city. Cyrus sent greetings to all Babylon. Ugbaru, his governor, installed subgovernors in Babylon.