This was a ziggurat dedicated to Marduk, the patron god of Babylon. The closest candidate for this construction is said to be the Etemenanki of Babylon. There is, however, some contention if Nebuchadnezzar II can really receive recognition for creating the Hanging Gardens.Įven more exciting and controversial is the proposal that this king ordered the construction of the Tower of Babel, but not by that name. He is also generally credited with the construction of two major features of Babylon - the Ishtar Gate in 575 BC and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Firstly, he is documented for driving the Jews out of Babylon, capturing the city of Jerusalem in 597 BC, and destroying the First Temple and that city in 587 BC. Nebuchadnezzar II is most remembered today for a handful of important acts. During Nebuchadnezzar II’s reign, which lasted until around 562 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire was in control of Babylonia, Assyria, parts of Asia Minor, Phoenicia, Israel, and northern Arabia. The Neo-Babylonian Empire reached its zenith during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II, who succeeded Nabopolassar in around 605 BC. This ruler set the groundwork for the impressive Neo-Babylonian Empire, leaving his son Nebuchadnezzar II with the ideal circumstances to bring Babylonia to the forefront of ancient society. And that is exactly what the son did. When he died, he left his son with immense stores of wealth and a strong Babylonian city. Having gained independence from the Assyrians, Nabopolassar established the Neo-Babylonian Empire, with Babylon as its capital. This coalition succeeded in destroying the Neo-Assyrian Empire. One of these was a Chaldean chief by the name of Nabopolassar, who formed an alliance with the Medes, Persians, Scythians, and Cimmerians. Many subjects of the Neo-Assyrian Empire seized this opportunity to revolt. ( homocosmicos / Adobe Stock) Destruction of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and Birth of a New Babylonįollowing the death of Ashurbanipal around 627 BC, civil war broke out in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, causing it to weaken. Thus, this First Babylonian Empire was short-lived and it soon fell under the dominion of foreigners, including the Hittites, the Kassites, and the Assyrians. This may be due to the lack of an effective bureaucracy, as his active participation on regional wars meant that he did not focus on establishing an administrative system that would ensure the continual running of his empire after his death. His focus was also military and conquest, but according to his own writings, his main goal was to improve the lives of those who lived under his rule.īy the time of Hammurabi’s death, Babylon was in control of the whole of Mesopotamia, although his successors were not able to maintain this control. Hammurabi streamlined administration, commissioned huge building projects, improved agriculture, repaired and rebuilt infrastructure, enlarged and heightened the walls of the city, and built extravagant temples dedicated to the gods. During his long reign, he oversaw the great expansion of his empire, conquering the city-states of Elam, Larsa, Eshnunna and Mari, an act which he regarded as part of a sacred mission to spread civilization to all nations. By ousting the king of Assyria, Ishme-Dagan I, and making his son pay tribute, he made Babylon a major power in Mesopotamia. Hammurabi (reigned from 1792-1750 BC) was the sixth ruler of the First Dynasty of Babylon. It was during the 18th century BC that Babylon became a major power in the region under the rule of the Amorite king, Hammurabi. Over time, the town would grow and develop into one of the most important cities in ancient Mesopotamia. At that time, Babylon was part of the Akkadian Empire. The city of Babylon is located in modern day Iraq and its history stretches back to the 3rd millennium BC, when it was a small port town on the Euphrates River. ( Public Domain ) Immense Growth Before the Destruction of Babylon The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The fall of Babylon is reported by a number of ancient sources, including the Cyrus Cylinder, the Greek historian Herodotus, as well as a number of books in the Old Testament. This event saw the conquest of Babylon by the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great and marked the end of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The fall of Babylon is a historical event that occurred in 539 BC.
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