The First Empires

1. The First Empires

2. The Assyrians- 650 B.C.-950m B.C. • Warrior Society – well organized military • Large army of foot soldiers • Archers- experts with bow and arrow • Chariots • Horse soldiers • Used tunneling • Ladder systems for scaling fort walls • Battering rams • Total war- destroyed enemies crops and food

5. Government • Large empire- from the Persian Gulf to Egypt’s Nile river • Strong Kings • Divided lands into Provinces • Collected taxes • Enforced laws • Built roads • Provided protection- stations -for soldiers and also government messengers

7. Assyrian Accomplishments • Well organized and trained army • Writing – record keeping of all events • Laws- similar to Hammurabi’s code, but punishments were much more brutal and cruel • Buildings – many large temples and palaces(carvings and statues were common) • Literature- large collection , one of the world’s largest libraries in Nineveh

8. Chaldeans - King Nebuchadnezzar • Harsh treatment causes rebellion in Assyria • Chaldeans( descendants of Babylonians) join and Assyrian empire crumbles • Rebuild Babylon – becomes the center of the empire

9. Babylon Surrounded by a wall wide enough so two chariots could pass

11. Hanging Gardens

12. Chaldean Accomplishments • Babylon’s walled city • 300 ft ziggurat in center of Babylon- tower of Babel • Hanging Gardens • Mapping of stars and planets • Using the phases of the moon – seasons • 7 day week • Sundail