Military EmpiresMilitary Empires

1.1. The AssyriansThe Assyrians

2. The Chaldeans2. The Chaldeans

3. The Persians3. The Persians

The AssyriansThe Assyrians

Located in MesopotamiaLocated in Mesopotamia * upper part of the Tigris River* upper part of the Tigris River

Used the same writing system Used the same writing system and language as the Babyloniansand language as the Babylonians

Assyrians- Warrior like peopleAssyrians- Warrior like people * Major focus on military * Major focus on military

The Assyrian ArmyThe Assyrian Army Well organized and extremely powerfulWell organized and extremely powerful

Divided into small groups:Divided into small groups:

1. Foot soldiers1. Foot soldiers

2. Charioteers2. Charioteers

3. Cavalry3. Cavalry

4. Archers4. Archers

Fighting in the army became a year round Fighting in the army became a year round jobjob

Assyrian WeaponsAssyrian Weapons Most of their weapons were made of IronMost of their weapons were made of Iron

* Were harder and stronger * Were harder and stronger

Smelting- heating the iron, hammering Smelting- heating the iron, hammering out all its impurities and rapidly cooling itout all its impurities and rapidly cooling it

* Made the iron last longer* Made the iron last longer

* Borrowed this skill from the Hittites* Borrowed this skill from the Hittites

* Changes how Wars are fought* Changes how Wars are fought

Cruel TacticsCruel Tactics Assyrians were cruel warriorsAssyrians were cruel warriors * Brought Death and Destruction to * Brought Death and Destruction to

Middle EastMiddle East

Skilled in attacking cities:Skilled in attacking cities: 1. Tunneled under walls1. Tunneled under walls 2. Rammed through the gates2. Rammed through the gates 3. Set fire to everything 3. Set fire to everything 4. Carried away people and goods 4. Carried away people and goods

People were afraid of the Assyrians People were afraid of the Assyrians because they had a “BAD REPUTATION”because they had a “BAD REPUTATION”

Kings and GovernmentKings and Government Kings- great leaders of the Assyrian peopleKings- great leaders of the Assyrian people * Ashurbanipal- started one of the worlds * Ashurbanipal- started one of the worlds

first librariesfirst libraries

Assyrian Kings have to control:Assyrian Kings have to control: 1. Many people1. Many people 2. Large areas of land 2. Large areas of land

** ** ProvincesProvinces- political districts divided up to - political districts divided up to help manage the empirehelp manage the empire

* All were connected by a system of * All were connected by a system of roadsroads

End of the AssyriansEnd of the Assyrians

Assyrian rule came to an end Assyrian rule came to an end because:because:

1. Empire grew too large 1. Empire grew too large

2. Capital city of Nineveh was 2. Capital city of Nineveh was captured by the Chaldeanscaptured by the Chaldeans

** Empire crumbled shortly after ** Empire crumbled shortly after

The ChaldeansThe Chaldeans King Nebuchadnezzar- famous king King Nebuchadnezzar- famous king

and successful rulerand successful ruler

* Empire stretched from modern * Empire stretched from modern day Syria and Palestineday Syria and Palestine

Called themselves “Babylonians”Called themselves “Babylonians”

Babylon- capital city and richest city Babylon- capital city and richest city in the world at this timein the world at this time

BabylonBabylon Babylon- worlds richest city at this time Babylon- worlds richest city at this time

in history (1 million people lived here)in history (1 million people lived here)

Ishtar Gate- main entrance into BabylonIshtar Gate- main entrance into Babylon

Center City:Center City:1.1. Palaces and TemplesPalaces and Temples2.2. Large ziggurats and garden areasLarge ziggurats and garden areas

Babylon had:Babylon had:1.1. Own police forceOwn police force2.2. Postal servicePostal service

Interesting RitualsInteresting Rituals** King Nebuchadnezzar built a beautiful ** King Nebuchadnezzar built a beautiful

streetstreetpaved with limestone and marblepaved with limestone and marble Each Spring:Each Spring: 1. Thousands of people crowded into the 1. Thousands of people crowded into the

square to watch a gold statue of the god square to watch a gold statue of the god Marduk being wheeled along the streetMarduk being wheeled along the street

2. Thought this was good luck for their 2. Thought this was good luck for their

crops crops

Babylonian Babylonian MarketplaceMarketplace Outside the center of the city was Outside the center of the city was

the marketplace and housesthe marketplace and houses

* sold pottery, cloth, baskets, food* sold pottery, cloth, baskets, food

Caravans- groups of traveling Caravans- groups of traveling merchantsmerchants

* traders would come to Babylon to * traders would come to Babylon to exchange goods, services and ideasexchange goods, services and ideas

Science in BabylonScience in Babylon

AstronomersAstronomers- people who study, - people who study, collect and explain facts about the collect and explain facts about the stars and atmospherestars and atmosphere

* studied the stars, planets, * studied the stars, planets, moonmoon

* created a 7 day week* created a 7 day week

* developed the phases of the * developed the phases of the moonmoon

The End of the The End of the BabyloniansBabylonians Grew too large to handle/manage Grew too large to handle/manage

their empiretheir empire

By 529 B.C.- the Persians had By 529 B.C.- the Persians had conquered Babylon and made conquered Babylon and made them part of their huge empirethem part of their huge empire

The PersiansThe Persians

Originally part of the Aryans from Originally part of the Aryans from Central Asia (cattle herders)Central Asia (cattle herders)

Settled in between the Caspian Sea Settled in between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf (modern day Iran)and the Persian Gulf (modern day Iran)

* today these people are called * today these people are called IraniansIranians

* Iran means “Land of the Aryans”* Iran means “Land of the Aryans”

Army and EmpireArmy and Empire

King Cyrus organized a massive army King Cyrus organized a massive army to help protect the new territories of to help protect the new territories of PersiaPersia

Army was hundreds of thousands of Army was hundreds of thousands of peoplepeople

* officers were Persian* officers were Persian

* foot soldiers were Persian or * foot soldiers were Persian or conquered peopleconquered people

The ArmyThe Army The Immortals- size of the army was NEVER The Immortals- size of the army was NEVER

less than 10,000 peopleless than 10,000 people

* if someone died, they replaced them* if someone died, they replaced them

* “Immortal”- cannot die* “Immortal”- cannot die

Strong Army allowed them to rule an empire Strong Army allowed them to rule an empire from India to Egyptfrom India to Egypt

* Allowed their conquered people freedom* Allowed their conquered people freedom

* Loyalty was won w/ fairness NOT fear and * Loyalty was won w/ fairness NOT fear and forceforce

King Darius and the King Darius and the City of PersepolisCity of Persepolis King Darius- one of the strongest King Darius- one of the strongest

kings of the Persian empirekings of the Persian empire * wanted to build a huge * wanted to build a huge

monument in his honormonument in his honor * built a giant fortress at the * built a giant fortress at the

capital city of Persepoliscapital city of Persepolis

Persepolis- became the most Persepolis- became the most powerful city in all of Persiapowerful city in all of Persia

GovernmentGovernment The King chose a Governor, Secretary and a The King chose a Governor, Secretary and a

General for each of the 20 provinces of PersiaGeneral for each of the 20 provinces of Persia

ProvincesProvinces- territorial boundary (like a city - territorial boundary (like a city state or district)state or district)

* made it easier to manage the empire* made it easier to manage the empire

Officials reported to the KingOfficials reported to the King

* all taxes went to the royal treasury in * all taxes went to the royal treasury in PersepolisPersepolis

Family LifeFamily LifePersian FamiliesPersian Families1.1. Very largeVery large2.2. Father was the head of the householdFather was the head of the household3.3. Boys were raised to enter the militaryBoys were raised to enter the military4.4. Poor women worked very hard Poor women worked very hard 5.5. Rich women were protected but Rich women were protected but

shelteredsheltered

** Valued the family but the focus was on ** Valued the family but the focus was on preparing for the military and protectionpreparing for the military and protection

ReligionReligion Zoroaster preached about 2 primary godsZoroaster preached about 2 primary gods 1. Ahura Mazda- wise and truthful (GOOD)1. Ahura Mazda- wise and truthful (GOOD) 2. Ahriman- dark and negative (EVIL)2. Ahriman- dark and negative (EVIL) ** constantly at war with eachother** constantly at war with eachother

Humans had to decide which god they would Humans had to decide which god they would support (GOOD or EVIL)support (GOOD or EVIL)

1. Good Deeds- keeping your word, working hard, 1. Good Deeds- keeping your word, working hard, obeying the kingobeying the king

2. Bad Deeds- being lazy, stealing, lying2. Bad Deeds- being lazy, stealing, lying

** Supporting good would result in happiness** Supporting good would result in happiness

TradeTrade The Persians focused on the military firstThe Persians focused on the military first * Trade was not done by the Persians* Trade was not done by the Persians * Only the people they conquered traded* Only the people they conquered traded

Trade became easier when:Trade became easier when:1.1. They expanded their system of roadsThey expanded their system of roads (connections throughout the empire)(connections throughout the empire)2. They had many people/groups to trade with2. They had many people/groups to trade with

** Royal Road- trade route in Persia that was ** Royal Road- trade route in Persia that was over 1,600 miles in lengthover 1,600 miles in length

Using Coins for MoneyUsing Coins for Money

Gold coins were first used in LydiaGold coins were first used in Lydia

Lydia- small city in Asia Minor that was Lydia- small city in Asia Minor that was conquered by the Persiansconquered by the Persians

* Once they conquered, they used their * Once they conquered, they used their idea of trading coins during transactionsidea of trading coins during transactions

Transactions- selling of goods in a marketplaceTransactions- selling of goods in a marketplace

** soon gold coins became standard and ** soon gold coins became standard and popular popular