Chapter 7: Military Empires

·        Military empires developed in Mesopotamia (MS) between 1000-570 BC.

Section 1: The Assyrians

·         ~1000 years after Hammurabi Assyrians (AS) became powerful in N. MS.

·        Used same language and writing as Babylonians.

·        Due to land (wasn’t easy to protect) had to learn to fight to survive.

·        By 800 BC they had taken over most of MS.

The Assyrian Army

·        Very well organized included foot soldiers, chariots, cavalry, and archers.

·        Eventually became concerned only with warfare and not farming.

·        Used first weapons made out of iron borrowed technology of smelting from Hitites to make weapons.

·        Very thorough would enslave populations they conquered and burn cities.

·        Could either agree to live under their rule and pay high taxes or would be conquered if resisted.

·        So scary some surrendered based only on reputation of AS.

·        Conquered Egyptians in 671 B.C.

Kings and Governments

·        Kings were very powerful.

·        Very large empire (see page 119) they divided it up into provinces.

·        Officials who governed provinces were chosen by king and made sure laws were followed and taxes were paid.

·        Eventually territory became too large and when one king (Ashurbanipal) died groups led a successful revolt against rule.

·        Chaldeans (CH) captured the capital, Nineveh, in 612 B.C. and that was the end of the AS empire.

Section 2: The Chaldeans

·        Chaldeans (CH) defeated AS were from area of Babylonians and considered themselves to be Bablyonians.

·        Under Nebuchadrezzar rebuilt empire and Babylon became biggest city in the world (close to 1 M lived there).

·        City was well protected behind walls.

·        Huge ziggurat/temple and king’s palace had Hanging Gardens (one of the 7 wonders of ancient world).

·        Believed in Babylonian God Marduk.

·        Very involved in trade and became richer through caravans (traveling merchants) from as far away as Egypt and India.

·        Astronomy was important because it revealed the plans of the gods, were first to have sundial and 7 day week.

·        Had same problems Assyrians did with holding together the empire.

·        Eventually declined over time and in 539 B.C. he Persians captured Babylon and the Chaldean area became a part of the Persian Empire.

Section 3: The Persians

·        Originally part of the Arayan group from central Asia, but around 2000 BC moved west and established Persia.

·        Mostly peaceful for 1000 years.

·        Lived on large farms

Army and Empire

·        About 600 BC conquered by Medes and than new king (Cyrus) turned around and conquered Medes.

·        Started to expand under Cyrus and developed well organized army.

·        Immortals were best fighters in the army.

·        Empire expanded rapidly and stretched from India to Egypt (Pg. 125).

·        Allowed subjects to keep own language, religion, and laws mainly just had to pay taxes to Persia.

·        Believed important to be fair and that being fair would keep order.

·        Darius was important king after Cyrus and he had the magnificent capital Persepolis built.

Government Officials

·        King relied upon others to help him rule.

·        All officials spoke Aramaic.

·        20 provinces in empire, each had a governor, secretary, and general who were selected by king.

·        Each helped to collect taxes and reported directly to the king (to keep each other from cheating).

·        Inspectors determined who owed taxes and looked out for signs of rebellions.

·        Judges made the kings laws and ensured they were carried out

Family Life

·        Poor had 1 room houses, rich had one set of rooms for men and another for women and children.

·        Father ruled and families were large.

·        Women and men lived very different lives

Religion

·        At first were polytheistic

·        Zoroaster started popular religion in about 570 BC

·        He taught there were two gods, one of good (Mazda) and one of evil (Ahriman)

·        People could choose which they would support by their actions

·        Taught that eventually Mazda would win and Ahriman and his supporters would be punished

Trade

·        Persians wanted to do other things not become traders

·        Thought trading made people have to be bad (have to cheat people)

·        Got trade from all over including China

·        Improved roads and made trading easier

·        Started using coins as money which made trade easier

·        First coins made of gold and made people more likely to trade many different things