The Chaldean Empire
While the Assyrian Empire was weakening a group of people known as the Chaldeans united into a strong force. These people came from the southern end of the Tigris-Euphrates Valley. Led by Nabopolassar they rebuilt the city of Babylon which became the capital and most important city of the Chaldean Empire. The Chaldeans replaced the Assyrians as the major power in Mesopotamian area.
Assyria defeated
Nabopolassar made a treaty with a fierce mountain people from the territory of Media located along the Caspian Sea. To insure this treaty would continue the king of Media arranged for the marriage of Ametis his daughter to Nebuchadnezzar heir to the Chaldean throne. King Cyaxares of Media conquered Assyria's northern territory and other small kingdoms in Asia Minor. The Medes took control of the highland area of the Assyrian Empire. Meanwhile Nebuchadnezzar led a Chaldean army against Nineveh and completely destroyed that city in 612 B.C. The Chaldeans set out to conquer Canaan and the other Assyrian territories including the Fertile Crescent.
The battle of Carchemish
With the Assyrians defeated the Egyptians saw an opportunity to recapture Canaan a country they once controlled. They faced Nebuchadnezzar's Chaldean army at Carchemish a city of Canaan. Historians consider this one of the major battles in world history. The Egyptians were so terribly beaten that they never invaded any territory outside of their boundaries again. Nebuchadnezzar was stopped from conquering Egypt by the death of his father. He returned to Babylon to claim the throne. Later his armies did invade Egypt and lower Egypt became a providence in the Chaldean Empire
The Middle East conquered
The Chaldean armies swept through the Middle East making conquests everywhere they went. The southern Hebrew Kingdom of Judah was defeated and the city of Jerusalem was captured. King Solomon's Temple was completely destroyed and all the leading people in the kingdom were taken to Babylon as prisoners of war. It would be seventy years before the Hebrews or Jews would be allowed to return to the land of Israel.
The city of Babylon
The city of Babylon has played an important role in Mesopotamian history. The capital of Hammurabie's kingdom centuries before Babylon had been destroyed by the Assyrians. When the Chaldeans rebuilt the city she regained her importance.
Trade center
Because of its location on the lower end of Euphrates River Babylon became an important trade center Nebuchadnezzar encouraged trade by improving the highways throughout Mesopotamia. The city of Babylon was filled with goods and merchants from all over the empire. The majority of Babylon's written documents found by Archaeologists have been contracts, loans, promissory note, and other items dealing with trade. Soon Babylon was the capital of a great empire.
Nebuchadnezzar's building program
When Nebuchadnezzar became king in 604 B.C he began rebuilding and adding to the size and beauty of Babylon. This city became one of the most beautiful and magnificent of its age. The King was surrounded Babylon with massive walls that were 85 feet thick. This means they were so large that seven Volkswagens could have parked end-to-end between the inner and outer edges. The city inside these walls covered some 200 square miles about the same size as the city of Chicago. Unlike those in Nineveh city structures were built of bricks since there were not stone quarries nearby. These bricks were coated with bright enamel of different colors. Almost every brick inscribed with the statement: " I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon." The Euphrates River flowed through the center of the city and was used as a roadway for transporting goods and people. The streets were laid out neatly at right angles to each other. The major street called Processional Way entered the city through a huge gate called the Ishtar Gate This gate was made of beautiful blue tiles and decorated with animals of yellow tiles. Through this massive entrance victorious armies passed when returning from war with captives and tribute. The structure that dominated Babylon was a seven-story Ziggurat or temple-tower. Some historians have suggested that this unusual ziggurat was the remains of the ancient Tower of Babel and that it had been rebuilt by Nebuchadnezzar.
The tower reached 650 feet into the air making it taller than the pyramids of Egypt. Each of the seven stores was colored red, blue, or orange supposedly representing different heavenly bodies. Nebuchadnezzar palace covered 7 acres. Huge stone Lions guard the entrance. The banquet hall was 171 feet by 65 feet with yellow walls and white floors. The walls of the place were decorated with bas-relief sculptures.
The tower reached 650 feet into the air making it taller than the pyramids of Egypt. Each of the seven stores was colored red, blue, or orange supposedly representing different heavenly bodies. Nebuchadnezzar palace covered 7 acres. Huge stone Lions guard the entrance. The banquet hall was 171 feet by 65 feet with yellow walls and white floors. The walls of the place were decorated with bas-relief sculptures.
The hanging gardens of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's wife Ametis became homesick for the hill and mountains of Media the king had an elaborate Ziggurat and terraced garden built for her. Known as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon it is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ziggurat had five stories. The outside was coated with a tar-like substance called bitumen and a layer of lead for waterproofing. Over this covering was a thick layer of soil where shrubs, flowers, and trees from all over the empire were planted. In addition there were fountains and aviaries for birds. The lavish garden was watered by a special irrigation system. On the roof was a reservoir where rainwater was stored. When the reservoir went dry it was refilled from the Euphrates River by a movable bucket system. Water from the reservoir was carried downhill to the gardens through pipes of baked clay. From the ground the gardens seem to hang suspended in the air. In the garden 75 feet above the city's head and dust the queen and her ladies walked around the splashing fountains and were shaded from the sun by trees.
Life in Babylon
Babylonians lived in much the same way as other throughout Mesopotamia. The common people earned a living as farmers, soldiers, or merchants. Children attended schools that were held in the temples. The style of home was similar to that of the Old Babylonian kingdom.
Slavery
As a result of all the wars slavery was more common in other cities. Most of the slaves were prisoners of war and as a general rule their life was difficult. If an owner felt his slave was not earning his keep he could sell or kill him. Often slave masters were ordered to loan their slaves to the government for building projects or army service. Although the life of a slave was usually harsh to improve his life. He could marry a free woman (if she was willing) and their children would be free. Also if a slave was cleaver his master might allow him to operate a business enough profit to buy his freedom. This however did not happen very often. Unlike male slaves women had little hope apart from getting a kind master. If they were pretty they usually were added to a household as concubines. Otherwise they married other slaves and their children continued in the same hopeless existence. There was little chance of a free man marrying a slave.
Religion
Along the city walls of Babylon there were riches in which statues of gods were placed to guard the city. Altars were built on many city street corners. People could stop there during their busy day and make a special offerings to their gods the major ones being Baal and Marduk. The priests for the Babylonian gods were very rich and powerful. There also were many ziggurats throughout the city. These were not merely places of worship but were also places from which the priests could study the universe. We have already seen how the people in Mesopotamia practiced astrology trying to foretell the future by the moments of the stars and planets. Today some historians believe these early studies led to naming some of the days of the week. Sunday was named for the sun Monday was for the Moon and Saturday was for Saturn. In addition to astrology the Babylonians tried to foretell the future in many other ways. They interpreted dreams, examined the internal organs of animals , and studied drops of oil put in water. They believed in demons and nearly every part of their lives was associated in some way with sorcery or magic.
The Fall of the Chaldean Empire
When Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 B.C. his son Nabonidus became king. He did not however remain in Babylon to rule his country or lead his armies to conquer more territory. Like many people who want to know more about the past King Nabonidus preferred to dig in the ruins of ancient Sumer. He was one of the first archaeologists in history. With Nabonidus away in Sumer his son Belshazzar ran the empire. He was a poor ruler more interested in pleasure than in good government. Under his rule the judges and government officials became corrupt. The army no longer fighting wars of conquest lost is ability and desire to fight. The priests gained more and more power but were unhappy with how the empire was governed. The government of Babylon became more and more unstable. Meanwhile the Persians gained power and began conquering territory once controlled by the Babylonians. Then in 539 B.C. the Persian army led by Cyrus was at the gates of Babylon and the city was captured. Withing thirty years after Nebuchadnezzar's death the Chaldean Empire came to and end.