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

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,  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.

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 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>

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>

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 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.

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 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.

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 [[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]].

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). 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>

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], [[Washington State University]]</ref>

The early Persian kings had tried to keep the religious ceremonies of [[Marduk]]. By the reign of [[Darius III]], over-taxation and numerous wars had led to a deterioration of Babylon's main shrines and canals, and the disintegration of the region. Despite three rebellions in 522 BCE, 521 BCE and 482 BCE, the land and city of Babylon remained under Persian rule for two centuries. In 331 BCE, [[Alexander the Great]] took over. Under the [[Parthia]]n Empire, Babylon continued to shrink and lose importance.

The early Persian kings had tried to keep the religious ceremonies of [[Marduk]]. By the reign of [[Darius III]], over-taxation and numerous wars had led to a deterioration of Babylon's main shrines and canals, and the disintegration of the region. Despite three rebellions in 522 BCE, 521 BCE and 482 BCE, the land and city of Babylon remained under Persian rule for two centuries. In 331 BCE, [[Alexander the Great]] took over. Under the [[Parthia]]n Empire, Babylon continued to shrink and lose importance.

== References ==

== References ==

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{{Reflist|2}}

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[[Category:Mesopotamia]]

[[Category:Mesopotamia]]