Is war Is war necessary? necessary? Explain your Explain your

answer.answer.

Is war Is war necessary? necessary? Explain your Explain your

answer.answer.

Chapter 7Chapter 7Military EmpiresMilitary Empires

Empire – territory governed by a single

ruler or nation

Empire – territory governed by a single

ruler or nation

AssyriansAssyrians

ChaldeansChaldeans PersiansPersians

EmpiresEmpires

Through conquest

and trade…

Through conquest

and trade…Ideas and customs

are spread!Ideas and customs

are spread!

Assyria746 – 609 B.C.

Assyria746 – 609 B.C.

Chaldean (Babylonian)

609 – 569 B.C.

Chaldean (Babylonian)

609 – 569 B.C.

Persian550 – 330 B.C.

Persian550 – 330 B.C.

The Assyrians

The AssyriansSection 1Section 1

The AssyriansThe Assyrians

•1000 years after Hammurabi

•Same language and writing system as Babylonians

•warriors

•1000 years after Hammurabi

•Same language and writing system as Babylonians

•warriors

Influenced by Geography:

Influenced by Geography:

•Geography did not provide protection

•Shepherds and farmers learned to fight

•Way of life

•Geography did not provide protection

•Shepherds and farmers learned to fight

•Way of life

The Assyrian Army

The Assyrian Army•1100 B.C. – defeated

neighboring enemies•800 B.C. – took over throughout Mesopotamia

•Well-organized•Foot soldiers, chariots, archers

•1100 B.C. – defeated neighboring enemies

•800 B.C. – took over throughout Mesopotamia

•Well-organized•Foot soldiers, chariots, archers

Why did Assyrians only fight in the summer (at

first)?

Why did Assyrians only fight in the summer (at

first)?

They were notplanting andharvesting

They were notplanting andharvesting

•Grew to have full-time soldiers

•Hired soldiers from other places or forced conquered people to serve

•Grew to have full-time soldiers

•Hired soldiers from other places or forced conquered people to serve

Iron WeaponsIron Weapons•Assyria was powerful because of iron weapons

•1400 B.C. – Hittites developed a way to make iron stronger…

•Smelting – heated iron, hammered out impurities, and rapidly cooled it

•Assyria was powerful because of iron weapons

•1400 B.C. – Hittites developed a way to make iron stronger…

•Smelting – heated iron, hammered out impurities, and rapidly cooled it

Assyrians were cruel WARRIORS:Assyrians were

cruel WARRIORS:

•Spread destruction•Destroyed conquered cities with fire and carried away citizens and goods

•Resistance was punished

•Spread destruction•Destroyed conquered cities with fire and carried away citizens and goods

•Resistance was punished

•If no resistance – paid taxes•Sometimes Assyrians conquered without fighting.

•If no resistance – paid taxes•Sometimes Assyrians conquered without fighting.

How?How?

Spread stories About cruelty!Spread stories About cruelty!

Kings and Governments

Kings and Governments

•Ruled from Persian Gulf to Nile Valley

•Spent time fighting battles and punishing enemies

•Ruled from Persian Gulf to Nile Valley

•Spent time fighting battles and punishing enemies

AshurbanipalAshurbanipal•Built one of world’s first libraries

•25,000 tablets of hymns, stories, biographies (written in Sumerian and Babylonian – learned to read Sumerian)

•Built one of world’s first libraries

•25,000 tablets of hymns, stories, biographies (written in Sumerian and Babylonian – learned to read Sumerian)

•Last great Assyrian King•Divided empire into provinces (political districts)

•Provinces were ran by officials

•Last great Assyrian King•Divided empire into provinces (political districts)

•Provinces were ran by officials

Government Officials were

responsible for…

Government Officials were

responsible for…•Collecting taxes•Making sure laws were obeyed

•Collecting taxes•Making sure laws were obeyed

Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire

•Empire was connected by roads

•Capital was Nineveh•612 B.C. – Chaldeans captured Nineveh

•Empire was connected by roads

•Capital was Nineveh•612 B.C. – Chaldeans captured Nineveh

What led to the fall of the Assyrian Empire?

What led to the fall of the Assyrian Empire?

It became too large and had too

many enemies!

It became too large and had too

many enemies!