Mesopotamia 2.4: The Chaldean Empire

Mesopotamia 2.4: The Chaldean Empire

Guiding Question: Why was Babylon an important city in the ancient world and what achievements were accomplished there?

​One Greek historian in the 400s BCE described the beauty of Babylon. He wrote, "In magnificence, there is no other city that approaches it".

​The Greatness of Babylon

• ​for his people, Nebuchadnezzar built a beautiful street near the palace they could visit

• ​paved with limestone and marble, and lined with walls of blue glazed tile

• ​each spring, thousands of people crowded into Babylon to watch a gold statue of the god Marduk as it was wheeled through the streets

• ​Chaldeans believed that the ceremony would bring peace and bigger crops to their empire

​The Greatness of Babylon

• ​Many new canals were built in Babylon, making the land even more fertile

• ​to pay for building projects and to maintain the army, Nebuchadnezzar had to collect very high taxes and tributes

• ​Because his empire stretched as far as Egypt, it had to have an efficient system of government

Open Ended

What is the difference between a tax and a tribute? (Think who receives it)

​The Greatness of Babylon

• ​Outside the center of Babylon stood houses and marketplaces where artisans made pottery, cloth, jewelry, and baskets

• ​the major trade routes between the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea passed through Babylon

• ​Merchants came to the city in traveling groups or caravans to buy Babylonian goods

• ​Babylon grew wealthy from this trade

​Scientific Achievements in Babylon

• ​the people of Babylon also made many scientific achievements

• ​Chaldean astronomers, people who study planets and stars, mapped the stars, planets, and phases of the moon as they changed.

• ​they believed the gods showed their plans in the changes in the sky

• ​Chaldeans invented one of the first sundials to measure time

• ​they also were the first to follow a seven day week

Open Ended

Why was mapping the movement of planets and stars important for ancient people?

​The Fall of the Empire

• ​After Nebuchadnezzar died, a series of weak kings ruled the Chaldean empire

• ​Poor harvests and slow trade further weakened the empire

• ​In 539 BCE, the Persians recognized the Chaldeans had lost their strength and leadership

• ​Persians took advantage of this and captured Babylon and made Mesopotamia part of their empire

• ​However, they allowed the Chaldeans to keep their culture because they did not want to destroy all they had accomplished

Open Ended

Why were the Persians wise not to destroy what the Chaldeans had accomplished?

​Let's review some our of empires....

Multiple Choice

The first empire of all time was...

• Chaldean Empire

• Akkadian Empire

• Babylonian Empire

• Assyrian Empire

Multiple Choice

This empire had a strong army of 50,000 soldiers...

• Babylonian Empire

• Chaldean Empire

• Akkadian Empire

• Assyrian Empire

Multiple Choice

Hammurabi was the leader of this empire...

• Akkadian

• Babylonian

• Assyrian

• Chaldean

Multiple Choice

Babylon was the capital of which 2 empires?

• Akkadian and Babylonian

• Chaldean and Assyrian

• Babylonian and Akkadian

• Babylonian and Chaldean

Multiple Choice

This empire had different kings due to being divided into provinces (it covered present day Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq)...

• Chaldean

• Assyrian

• Babylonian

• Akkadian

Multiple Choice

Sargon led this empire that lasted for over 200 years...

• Akkadian

• Babylonian

• Assyrian

• Chaldean

Multiple Choice

King Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar led during this empire...

• Akkadian

• Babylonian

• Assyrian

• Chaldean

Multiple Choice

The first library was built in the capital of Ninevah during this empire...

• Akkadian

• Babylonian

• Assyrian

• Chaldean

Multiple Choice

The lovely Hanging Gardens (one of the 7 Wonders of the World) was built during this wealthy empire...

• Akkadian

• Babylonian

• Assyrian

• Chaldean

Multiple Select

The Assyrian miiltary were disliked by many because (choose all that apply)....

• they robbed people

• they spoke a different language

• they set crops on fire

• they forced people to pay tributes