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[[File:Hammurabi's Babylonia 1.svg|thumb|right|250px|Map showing the Babylonian territory upon Hammurabi's ascension in 1792 BC and upon his death in 1750 BC]]

[[File:Hammurabi's Babylonia 1.svg|thumb|right|250px|Map showing the Babylonian territory upon Hammurabi's ascension in 1792 BCE and upon his death in 1750 BCE]]

[[File:Babylon relief.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Detail of the [[Ishtar Gate]]]]

[[File:Babylon relief.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Detail of the [[Ishtar Gate]]]]

Babylon was at first a small town which sprung up at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. The town flourished and attained prominence and political repute. Babylon eclipsed [[Nippur]] as the 'holy city' of Mesopotamia around the time [[Hammurabi]] first unified the [[Babylonia]]n Empire, and became the [[Capital (city)|capital city]] of the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] from 612 to 539 BC.  

'''Babylon''' was a [[city-state]] of ancient [[Mesopotamia]], in present-day [[Iraq]], about 85 kilometers (55 mi) south of [[Baghdad]]. All that remains of the original ancient city of Babylon today is a mound of broken mud-brick buildings and debris in the fertile Mesopotamian plain between the [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]] rivers.

The [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]] were one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]], and the Walls of Babylon were also famous.

 

The [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]] were one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]].

==Assyrian period==

==Assyrian period==

During the reign of [[Sennacherib]] of Assyria, Babylonia was in a constant state of revolt, and was suppressed only by the complete destruction of the city of Babylon. In 689 BC, its walls, temples and palaces were razed, and the rubble was thrown into the Arakhtu, the sea bordering the earlier Babylon on the south. This act shocked the religious conscience of Mesopotamia. After the [[murder]] of Sennacherib by two of his sons, his successor Esarhaddon hastened to rebuild the old city. He was crowned there, and made it his residence for part of the year.  

During the reign of [[Sennacherib]] of [[Assyria]], Babylonia was in a constant state of revolt, It was only pacified by the complete destruction of the city of Babylon. In 689 BCE, its walls, temples and palaces were razed, and the rubble was thrown into the Arakhtu, the river on the south side of the city. This act shocked the religious conscience of Mesopotamia. After the [[murder]] of Sennacherib by two of his sons, his successor Esarhaddon hurried to rebuild the old city. He was crowned there, and it was where he lived for part of the year.

In the later overthrow of the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonians saw another example of divine vengeance.<ref>Albert Houtum-Schindler, Babylon, in ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 11th ed.</ref>

In the later overthrow of the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonians saw another example of divine vengeance.<ref>Albert Houtum-Schindler, Babylon, in ''Encyclopædia Britannica'', 11th ed.</ref>

==Neo-Babylonian Chaldean Empire==  

==Neo-Babylonian Chaldean Empire==  

Babylon threw off the Assyrian rule in 612 BC and became the capital of the Neo-Babylonian [[Chaldea]]n Empire.<ref>Bradford, Alfred S. 2001. ''With arrow, sword, and spear: a history of warfare in the ancient world'', 47–48. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0275952592.</ref><ref>Curtis, Adrian; Herbert Gordon May 2007. ''Oxford Bible Atlas'' Oxford University Press ISBN 978-0191001581 p 122 [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=E7aXDYZ8SxkC&pg=PA122&dq=Babylon+"chaldean+empire"&num=100 Google Books Search]</ref><ref>von Soden, Wilfred; Donald G. Schley 1996. William B. Eerdmanns ISBN 978-0802801425 p 60 [http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XE-AnPOmma4C&pg=PA59&dq=Babylon+"chaldean+empire"&num=100#PPA60,M1 Google Books Search]</ref>

Babylon threw off the Assyrian rule in 612 BCE and became the capital of the Neo-Babylonian [[Chaldea]]n Empire.<ref>Bradford, Alfred S. 2001. ''With arrow, sword, and spear: a history of warfare in the ancient world'', 47–48. Greenwood Publishing Group. {{ISBN|0275952592}}.</ref><ref>Curtis, Adrian; Herbert Gordon May 2007. ''Oxford Bible Atlas'' Oxford University Press {{ISBN|978-0191001581}} p 122 [https://books.google.com/books?id=E7aXDYZ8SxkC&pg=PA122&dq=Babylon+"chaldean+empire"&num=100 Google Books Search]</ref><ref>von Soden, Wilfred; Donald G. Schley 1996. William B. Eerdmanns {{ISBN|978-0802801425}} p 60 [https://books.google.com/books?id=XE-AnPOmma4C&pg=PA59&dq=Babylon+"chaldean+empire"&num=100#PPA60,M1 Google Books Search]</ref>

With the recovery of Babylonian independence, a new era of building followed, and [[Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon|Nebuchadnezzar II]] (604–561 BC) made Babylon into one of the wonders of the ancient world.<ref>Saggs H.W.F. 2000. ''Babylonians'', p 165. University of California Press. ISBN 0520202228.</ref>  Nebuchadnezzar ordered the complete reconstruction of the imperial grounds, including rebuilding the [[Etemenanki]] [[ziggurat]] and the construction of the Ishtar [[Gate]] — the most spectacular of eight gates that ringed the perimeter of Babylon. All that was ever found of the Original Ishtar gate was the foundation and scattered bricks.  

With the recovery of Babylonian independence, a new era of building followed, and [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] (604–561 BCE) made Babylon into one of the wonders of the ancient world.<ref>Saggs H.W.F. 2000. ''Babylonians'', p 165. University of California Press. {{ISBN|0520202228}}.</ref>  Nebuchadnezzar ordered the complete reconstruction of the imperial grounds, including rebuilding the [[Etemenanki]] [[ziggurat]] and the construction of the Ishtar [[Gate]] — the most spectacular of eight gates that ringed the perimeter of Babylon. All that was ever found of the Original Ishtar gate was the foundation and scattered bricks.

Nebuchadnezzar is also credited with the construction of the [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]] (one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World|seven wonders of the ancient world]]), said to have been built for his homesick wife [[Amyitis]]. Whether the gardens did exist is a matter of dispute. Historians disagree about the location, and some believe it may have been confused with gardens in [[Nineveh]].

Nebuchadnezzar is also credited with the construction of the [[Hanging Gardens of Babylon]] (one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World|seven wonders of the ancient world]]), said to have been built for his homesick wife [[Amyitis]]. Whether the gardens did exist is a matter of dispute. Historians disagree about the location, and some believe it may have been confused with gardens in [[Nineveh]].

==Persia captures Babylon==

==Persia captures Babylon==

In 539 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to [[Cyrus the Great]], king of [[Persia]], in the famous [[Battle of Opis]]. The walls of Babylon were impenetrable, and the only way into the city was through one of its many gates or through the Euphrates, which ebbed beneath its thick walls. Cyrus devised a plan to use the Euphrates as the mode of entry to the city. He ordered large camps of troops at each point and instructed them to wait for the signal. Awaiting an evening of a national feast among Babylonians, Cyrus' troops diverted the Euphrates river upstream, causing the Euphrates to drop to about 'mid thigh level on a man' or to dry up altogether. The soldiers marched under the walls through thigh-level water or as dry as mud.  

In 539 BCE, the Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to [[Cyrus the Great]], the king of [[Persia]], in the [[Battle of Opis]]. The walls of Babylon were very high and very thick. The only way into the city was through one of its many gates.  The Euphrates flowed next to the walls and Cyrus decided to use the river to get into the city. Cyrus' troops diverted the Euphrates river. This caused the level of the river to drop allowing soldiers to enter the city.

The Persian Army conquered the outlying areas of the city's interior while most Babylonians at the city center were oblivious to the breach. The account was elaborated upon by Herodotus,<ref>Herodotus, Book 1, Section 191</ref> and is also mentioned by passages in the Hebrew Bible.<ref>Isaiah 44:27</ref><ref>Jeremiah 50–51</ref> Cyrus claimed the city by walking through the gates of Babylon with little or no resistance from the drunken Babylonians.

The Babylonians had held a celebration that evening. The Persian Army took over most of the city before the Babylonians had become aware that the Persians had gotten into the city. The account was reported by [[Herodotus]],<ref>Herodotus, Book 1, Section 191</ref> and is also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible.<ref>Isaiah 44:27</ref><ref>Jeremiah 50–51</ref> Cyrus claimed the city by walking through the gates of Babylon with little or no resistance from the drunken Babylonians.

Cyrus later issued [[Cyrus cylinder|a decree]] permitting captive people, including the [[Jews]], to return to their own land (as explained in the Old Testament), to allow their temple to be rebuilt back in [[Jerusalem]].

Cyrus later issued [[British Museum#The_Collection|a decree]] allowing people, including the [[Jews]], to return to their own land. This is mentioned in the Old Testament. It allowed Jews' temple to be rebuilt in [[Jerusalem]].

Under Cyrus and the subsequent Persian king [[Darius the Great]], Babylon became the capital city of the 9th Satrapy (Babylonia in the south and Athura in the north), as well as a centre of learning and scientific advancement. In [[Achaemenid]] Persia, the ancient Babylonian arts of [[astronomy]] and [[mathematics]] were revitalised and flourished, and Babylonian scholars completed maps of constellations. The city was the administrative capital of the [[Persian Empire]], the preeminent power of the then known world, and it played a vital part in the history of that region for over two centuries. Many important archaeological discoveries have been made that can provide a better understanding of that era.<ref>[http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/legacy/cylinder.html Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia] ''The British Museum''. Accessed April 19, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MESO/PERSIANS.HTM Mesopotamia: The Persians]</ref>

Under Cyrus and the subsequent Persian king [[Darius the Great]], Babylon became the capital city of the 9th Satrapy (Babylonia in the south and Athura in the north). It was a centre of learning and scientific advancement. In [[Achaemenid]] Persia, the Babylonian arts of [[astronomy]] and [[mathematics]] were revitalised. Babylonian scholars made maps of constellations. The city was the administrative capital of the [[Persian Empire]]. This empire was the most powerful of the then known world. Many important archaeological discoveries have been made that improve our understanding of that era.<ref>[http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/forgottenempire/legacy/cylinder.html Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia] ''The British Museum''. Accessed April 19, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MESO/PERSIANS.HTM Mesopotamia: The Persians]</ref>

 

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Mesopotamia]]

[[Category:Mesopotamia]]