Assyrian and Persian Empire Assyrian and Persian Empire

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Slides 11-30 were created by Ms. Nayder Slides 11-30 were created by Ms. Nayder from our World Studies Patterns of from our World Studies Patterns of Interaction textbook )Interaction textbook )

AssyriansAssyrians

By: Aaron RobinsonBy: Aaron Robinson

Andy WebbAndy Webb

Katie HickeyKatie Hickey

**the Assyrian soldiers of Sennacherib carrying off the statues of the gods of an enemy Syrian city.**

Timeline of Assyrian EmpireTimeline of Assyrian Empire

5000 B.C5000 B.C. . – First site of Ninevah – First site of Ninevah inhabitedinhabited4750 B.C. – First temple of Ashur built4750 B.C. – First temple of Ashur built1760 B.C. – Hammurabi of Babylon 1760 B.C. – Hammurabi of Babylon conquers Ashur ending the early conquers Ashur ending the early Assyrian Empire.Assyrian Empire.1500 B.C. – Assyria subject to Mitanni 1500 B.C. – Assyria subject to Mitanni rule.rule.1365 B.C. – Ashur-uballit lays the 1365 B.C. – Ashur-uballit lays the foundations of the first Assyrian Empire foundations of the first Assyrian Empire

Timeline of Assyrian EmpireTimeline of Assyrian Empire 1363 B.C. – Ashur-ubalit revolts against 1363 B.C. – Ashur-ubalit revolts against

Mitanni rule and founds the Assyrian Mitanni rule and founds the Assyrian Empire.Empire.

1273 B.C. – Shalmanesar of Assyria 1273 B.C. – Shalmanesar of Assyria conquers the Mitanni.conquers the Mitanni.

1240 B.C. – Assyrians attack Babylon.1240 B.C. – Assyrians attack Babylon. 774 B.C. – Assyrian incursions of 774 B.C. – Assyrian incursions of

Phoenicia begin.Phoenicia begin. 752 B.C. – Aramaic is made an official 752 B.C. – Aramaic is made an official

language of the empire alongside language of the empire alongside Akkadiam. Akkadiam.

Timeline of Assyrian EmpireTimeline of Assyrian Empire

745 B.C. – Tiglath Pileser III rebuilds 745 B.C. – Tiglath Pileser III rebuilds the decaying Assyrian empire.the decaying Assyrian empire.

722 B.C. – Sargon II reorganizes the 722 B.C. – Sargon II reorganizes the Assyrian empire into 70 provinces.Assyrian empire into 70 provinces.

705 B.C. – Capital moved to Dur 705 B.C. – Capital moved to Dur Sharrukin and Assyria attacks Sharrukin and Assyria attacks Jerusalem.Jerusalem.

Timeline of Assyrian EmpireTimeline of Assyrian Empire

689 B.C. – Assyrians destroy Babylon.689 B.C. – Assyrians destroy Babylon. 671-651 B.C. – Assyrians rule in Egypt.671-651 B.C. – Assyrians rule in Egypt. 612 B.C. – Medes ally with Babylonia to 612 B.C. – Medes ally with Babylonia to

conquer Assyria.conquer Assyria. 609 B.C – Ashur – Uballit II, the last 609 B.C – Ashur – Uballit II, the last

Assyrian king, is defeated at Harran Assyrian king, is defeated at Harran and the Assyrian Empire came to its and the Assyrian Empire came to its end. end.

Early ReligionEarly Religion

Assyrian ReligionAssyrian Religion

• Assyrians have practiced two religions throughout their history: Ashurism and Christianity.

• Ashurism was the first religion of the Assyrians. The word Assyrian, in its Latin form, derives from the name of Ashur, the Assyrian god.

Assyrian ReligionAssyrian Religion

Ashur was the religious capital of Ashur was the religious capital of Assyria, and the center for worship of Assyria, and the center for worship of the god Ashur and the goddess the god Ashur and the goddess Ishtar/Inanna.Ishtar/Inanna.

Ashur was the religious capital and Ashur was the religious capital and also the political capital at large also the political capital at large periods of Assyrian history.periods of Assyrian history.

Assyrian ReligionAssyrian Religion

• Although other cities had more Although other cities had more inhabitants and were better situated inhabitants and were better situated strategically and easier to defend. Ashur strategically and easier to defend. Ashur had about 34 temples and 3 palaces. Only had about 34 temples and 3 palaces. Only a few of these have been excavated.a few of these have been excavated.

Assyrians continued to practice Ashurism Assyrians continued to practice Ashurism until 256 A.D, although by that time, most until 256 A.D, although by that time, most Assyrians had accepted Christianity. Assyrians had accepted Christianity.

Notable Rulers of AssyriaNotable Rulers of Assyria ShalmaneserShalmaneser Tiglath-Pileser ITiglath-Pileser I Ashar-Nasirpal IIAshar-Nasirpal II Shalmaneser IIIShalmaneser III Tiglath Pileser IIITiglath Pileser III Sargon IISargon II SennacherubSennacherub AshurbanipalAshurbanipal

GovernmentGovernment

Assyrians were ruled by very strong kings. Assyrians were ruled by very strong kings. Many were great warriors since these people Many were great warriors since these people were almost always involved in fighting. were almost always involved in fighting.

Most battles were caused by geography as Most battles were caused by geography as the rolling hills and valleys provided no the rolling hills and valleys provided no protection for the Assyrians.protection for the Assyrians.

Assyrian kings had to control many people Assyrian kings had to control many people over a large area, so they divided their over a large area, so they divided their empire into provinces. Each province had empire into provinces. Each province had officials that collected taxes and governed. officials that collected taxes and governed.

Military LifeMilitary Life The Assyrian Army was very well organized. Each member The Assyrian Army was very well organized. Each member

was authorized to have a shield, helmet, spear, and dagger. was authorized to have a shield, helmet, spear, and dagger. (which were made of iron)(which were made of iron)

They had chariots, cavalry, and archers. Early on they They had chariots, cavalry, and archers. Early on they fought only in the summers because of the planting and fought only in the summers because of the planting and harvest.harvest.

Assyrians were powerful due to the fact that they were very Assyrians were powerful due to the fact that they were very cruel. For hundreds of years their armies spread death and cruel. For hundreds of years their armies spread death and destruction throughout the Middle East. destruction throughout the Middle East.

They used battering rams or tunneled under city walls. After They used battering rams or tunneled under city walls. After each town was destroyed they would burn it, then take the each town was destroyed they would burn it, then take the citizens and their goods. citizens and their goods.

Over 600 years, the Assyrians conquered the Mitanni, Over 600 years, the Assyrians conquered the Mitanni, BabylonBabylon, Urartu, , Urartu, PhoeniciaPhoenicia, , JerusalemJerusalem and and EgyptEgypt..

Assyrian ContributionsAssyrian Contributions

• King Ashur-Banipal started one of the world’s first King Ashur-Banipal started one of the world’s first libraries. It had over 25,000 tablets of hymns, libraries. It had over 25,000 tablets of hymns, stories, and biographies.stories, and biographies.

• Invention of locks and keysInvention of locks and keys• First system of keeping timeFirst system of keeping time• First paved roadsFirst paved roads• First postal systemFirst postal system• First guitarFirst guitar• First plumbing and flush toiletsFirst plumbing and flush toilets• Invention of magnifying glassesInvention of magnifying glasses

The Empire Crumbles The Empire Crumbles

The cruelty displayed by the Assyrians The cruelty displayed by the Assyrians had earned them many enemies.had earned them many enemies.

In 612 BC, a combined army of In 612 BC, a combined army of Medes and Chaldenans and others Medes and Chaldenans and others burned and leveled Nineveh.burned and leveled Nineveh.

The Hebrew prophet Nahum gave voice The Hebrew prophet Nahum gave voice to the feelings of many at the time. to the feelings of many at the time.

PRIMARY SOURCEPRIMARY SOURCE““And it shall come to pass, that all they that And it shall come to pass, that all they that

look upon these shall flee from thee, and look upon these shall flee from thee, and say Nineveh is laid to waste; who will say Nineveh is laid to waste; who will bemoan her? Whence shall I seek bemoan her? Whence shall I seek comforters for thee?... The Shepherds comforters for thee?... The Shepherds slumber, O King of Assyria: thy nobles slumber, O King of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.” man gathereth them.” Nahum 3:7, 18 BibleNahum 3:7, 18 Bible

Rebirth of Babylon under the Rebirth of Babylon under the ChaldeansChaldeans

Around 600 BC, the Chaldeans made Around 600 BC, the Chaldeans made Babylon their capital. It became the center Babylon their capital. It became the center of a new empire, more than 1,000 years of a new empire, more than 1,000 years after Hammurabi. after Hammurabi.

King Nebuchadnezzar restored the cityKing Nebuchadnezzar restored the city

CHALDEAN ContributionsCHALDEAN Contributions

Chaldean astronomers kept detailed records Chaldean astronomers kept detailed records of how the stars and planets seemed to of how the stars and planets seemed to change positions in the night sky. change positions in the night sky.

They also concluded that the sun, moon, They also concluded that the sun, moon, Earth and five other planets belonged to Earth and five other planets belonged to the same solar system. the same solar system.

The Chaldean’s formed the basis for both The Chaldean’s formed the basis for both astronomy and astrologyastronomy and astrology

CHALDEAN Contributions CHALDEAN Contributions ContinuedContinued

According to legend, one of According to legend, one of Nebuchadnezzar’s wives missed the fragrant Nebuchadnezzar’s wives missed the fragrant shrubs of her mountain homeland. shrubs of her mountain homeland.

To please her, he had fragrant trees and To please her, he had fragrant trees and shrubs planted on terraces that rose 75 feet shrubs planted on terraces that rose 75 feet above Babylon’s dry, flat plain. above Babylon’s dry, flat plain.

These are known as the These are known as the Hanging Gardens of Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Babylon.

Greek Scholars listed them as one of the Greek Scholars listed them as one of the

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Hanging Gardens of BabylonHanging Gardens of Babylon

The Persians came to power The Persians came to power next in 550 BCnext in 550 BC

PersiaPersia, is in modern day , is in modern day IranIran.. They adopted many Assyrian military, They adopted many Assyrian military,

political and artistic inventions.political and artistic inventions.

The Persians would use the organizations The Persians would use the organizations that Assyrians had developed to stabilize that Assyrians had developed to stabilize the region.the region.

Persian EmpirePersian Empire

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire

Persian Kings were very tolerant. Cyrus Persian Kings were very tolerant. Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Empire.the Great was the founder of the Empire.

Darius seized the thrown in 522 BC and Darius seized the thrown in 522 BC and under his rule established an excellent under his rule established an excellent system of roads that allowed him to system of roads that allowed him to communicate quickly with the most distant communicate quickly with the most distant parts of the Empire.parts of the Empire.

The Royal RoadThe Royal Road

Persian EmpirePersian Empire

The Royal Road was 1, 677 miles in length.The Royal Road was 1, 677 miles in length.

For the first time coins of a certain value For the first time coins of a certain value circulated throughout an extended empire.circulated throughout an extended empire.

The network roads and the wide use of The network roads and the wide use of

standardized coins promoted trade. standardized coins promoted trade.

The Persian Empire and The Persian Empire and ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

A Persian prophet named Zoroaster taught A Persian prophet named Zoroaster taught that the earth is a battleground where a that the earth is a battleground where a great struggle is fought between the spirit great struggle is fought between the spirit of good and the spirit of evil.of good and the spirit of evil.

He preached that each person is expected He preached that each person is expected to take part in this struggle.to take part in this struggle.

The religion is monothestic, with a belief in The religion is monothestic, with a belief in the God Ahura Mazdathe God Ahura Mazda

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

At the end of time, Mazda will judge At the end of time, Mazda will judge everyone according to how well he or she everyone according to how well he or she fought the battle for goodfought the battle for good

Traces of Zoroasterism such as the Traces of Zoroasterism such as the concept of Satan and the belief in Angels concept of Satan and the belief in Angels can be found in Judaism, Christianity and can be found in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.Islam.

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism

After the Muslim conquest of Persia in AD After the Muslim conquest of Persia in AD 600, the Zoroastrianism declined. 600, the Zoroastrianism declined.

Some groups carried the faith to India.Some groups carried the faith to India.

Today, modern Zoroastrians continue to Today, modern Zoroastrians continue to observe the religion’s traditions in several observe the religion’s traditions in several countries including Iran and India, where countries including Iran and India, where its followers are called Parsis.its followers are called Parsis.

THE ENDTHE END