New Empires

Looking Back, Looking AheadIn Section 2, you learned about the

empires of Sargon and Hammurabi.Later empires—those of the Assyriansand the Chaldeans—used theirmilitary power in new ways.

Focusing on the • Assyria’s military power and well-

organized government helped it build a vast empire in Mesopotamiaby 650 B.C. (page 143)

• The Chaldean Empire built importantlandmarks in Babylon and developedthe first calendar with a seven-dayweek. (page 145)

Locating PlacesAssyria (uh•SIHR•ee•uh)Persian Gulf (PUHR•zhuhn)Nineveh (NIH•nuh•vuh)Hanging Gardens

Meeting PeopleNebuchadnezzar

(NEH•byuh•kuhd•NEH•zuhr)

Content Vocabularyprovince (PRAH•vuhns)caravan (KAR•uh•VAN)astronomer

(uh•STRAH•nuh•muhr)

Academic Vocabularycore (KOHR)interval (IHN•tuhr•vuhl)route (ROWT)

Reading StrategyCompare and Contrast Complete a Venn diagram like the one belowlisting the similarities and differencesbetween the Assyrian Empire and theChaldean Empire.

Assyrians Chaldeans

c. 900 B.C.Assyrians controlMesopotamia

612 B.C.Nineveh captured;Assyrian Empirecrumbles

539 B.C.Persians conquerChaldeans

900 B.C. 700 B.C. 500 B.C.900 B.C. 700 B.C. 500 B.C.

Nineveh

Babylon

HistorySocial ScienceStandardsWH6.2 Studentsanalyze the geographic,political, economic,religious, and socialstructures of the earlycivilizations of Mesopo-tamia, Egypt, and Kush.

142 CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations

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WH6.2 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia,Egypt, and Kush.

The Assyrians Assyria’s military power and well-

organized government helped it build a vast empirein Mesopotamia by 650 B.C.

Reading Connection Today, many countries have

armed forces to protect their interests. Read to dis-

cover how the Assyrians built an army strong enough to

conquer all of Mesopotamia.

About 1,000 years after Hammurabi, anew empire arose in Mesopotamia. It wasfounded by a people called the Assyrians(uh •SIHR •ee •uhns), who lived in the northnear the Tigris River. Assyria (uh•SIHR•ee•uh) had fertile valleys that attracted outsideinvaders. To defend their land, the Assyriansbuilt a large army. Around 900 B.C., theybegan taking over the rest of Mesopotamia.

Why Were the Assyrians So Strong? TheAssyrian military was well organized. At itscore were groups of foot soldiers armedwith spears and daggers. Other soldierswere experts at using bows and arrows. Thearmy also had chariot riders and soldierswho fought on horseback.

This fearsome and mighty force was thefirst large army to use iron weapons. Forcenturies, iron had been used for tools, butit was too soft to serve as a material forweapons. Then a people called the Hittites(HIH•TYTZ), who lived northwest of Assyria,developed a way of making iron stronger.They heated iron ore, hammered it, andrapidly cooled it. The Assyrians learnedthis technique from the Hittites. They pro-duced iron weapons that were strongerthan those made of copper or tin.

The Assyrians at WarThe Assyrians at War

When attacking a walled city, the Assyrians used massive war machines.The wheeled battering ram was powered by soldiers. It was covered to protect the soldiers inside, but it had slits so they could shoot arrows out.What other methods did Assyrian soldiers use to attack cities?

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144 CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations

Assyrian kings divided the empire intoprovinces (PRAH • vuhn • suhs), or politicaldistricts. They chose officials to govern eachprovince. The job of these officials was tocollect taxes and enforce the king’s laws.

Assyrian kings built roads to join allparts of their empire. Government soldierswere posted at stations along the way toprotect traders from bandits. Messengers ongovernment business used the stations torest and change horses.

Life in Assyria The Assyrians lived muchlike other Mesopotamians. Their writing wasbased on Babylonian writing, and they wor-shiped many of the same gods. Their lawswere similar, but lawbreakers often facedmore brutal and cruel punishments inAssyria.

As builders, the Assyrians showed greatskill. They erected large temples and palacesthat they filled with wall carvings and stat-ues. The Assyrians also produced and col-lected literature. One of the world’s firstlibraries was in Nineveh. It held 25,000tablets of stories and songs to the gods.Modern historians have learned much aboutancient civilizations from this library.

Explain Why were theAssyrian soldiers considered brutal and cruel?

40°E40°N 300 km0

Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection

300 mi.0

N

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Nile

R.

Tig ris

R .

Euph rate s R.

MediterraneanSea

RedSea

A R A B I A ND E S E R T

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MIA

ASIAMINOR

EGYPT

TyreJerusalem

Thebes

Nineveh

Babylon

1. Location What major rivers werepart of the Assyrian Empire?

2. Human/Environment InteractionWhat geographical features mayhave kept the Assyrians fromexpanding their empire to thenorth and south?

Assyrian Empire

Assyrianwinged bullstatues stoodas guardians atcity gates.

Assyrian EmpireKEY

The Assyrians were ferocious warriors.To attack cities, they tunneled under wallsor climbed over them on ladders. Theyloaded tree trunks onto movable platformsand used them as battering rams to knockdown city gates. Once a city was captured,the Assyrians set fire to its buildings. Theyalso carried away its people and goods.

Anyone who resisted Assyrian rule waspunished. The Assyrians drove people fromtheir lands and moved them into foreignterritory. Then they brought in new settlersand forced them to pay heavy taxes.

A Well-Organized Government Assyriankings had to be strong to rule their largeempire. By about 650 B.C., the empire stretchedfrom the Persian Gulf (PUHR • zhuhn) in theeast to Egypt’s Nile River in the west. Thecapital was at Nineveh (NIH • nuh • vuh) onthe Tigris River.

Boltin Picture Library

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WH6.2 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of Mesopotamia,Egypt, and Kush.

The ChaldeansThe Chaldean Empire built important

landmarks in Babylon and developed the first calen-dar with a seven-day week.

Reading Connection What landmarks exist in your

town or the nearest city? Read to learn some of the spe-

cial landmarks that made the Chaldean capital of

Babylon famous.

Assyria’s cruel treatment of people ledto many rebellions. About 650 B.C., theAssyrians began fighting each other overwho would be their next king. Because theAssyrians were not united, a group of peo-ple called the Chaldeans (kahl•DEE•uhns)were able to rebel.

The Chaldean people had moved fromthe Arabian Peninsula into southernMesopotamia about 1000 B.C. Their smallkingdom was quickly conquered by theAssyrians but the Chaldeans hated theirnew rulers. With the Assyrians busy fight-ing each other, King Nabopolassar of the

Web Activity Visit ca.hss.glencoe.com andclick on Chapter 1—Student Web Activity tolearn more about the first civilizations.

Chaldeans decided the time had come tofight back.

In 627 B.C. Nabopolassar led his peoplein rebellion against the Assyrians. TheChaldeans joined with the Medes, anotherpeople in the region who wanted to breakfree from the Assyrians. Together theChaldeans and Medes defeated Assyria’sarmy. In 612 B.C. they captured the Assyriancapital of Nineveh and finally put an end tothe hated Assyrian empire.

Nabopolassar and his son, the famousKing Nebuchadnezzar (NEH•byuh•khud•NEH • zuhr), then went on to build theirown empire. By 605 B.C., the Chaldeans had

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. A complex irrigation system brought water from the EuphratesRiver to the top of the gardens. From there,the water flowed down to each of the lower levels of the gardens. What othersights made Babylon a grand city?

Ruins of the Hanging Gardens

Hanging GardensHanging Gardens

Gia

nni D

agli

Ort

i/CO

RB

IS

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146 CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations

These terraced gardens showcased largetrees, masses of flowering vines, and otherbeautiful plants. A pump brought in waterfrom a nearby river. Nebuchadnezzar builtthe gardens to please his wife, who missedthe mountains and plants of her homelandin the northwest.

One Greek historian in the 400s B.C.described the beauty of Babylon. He wrote,“In magnificence, there is no other city thatapproaches it.” Outside the center ofBabylon stood houses and marketplaces.There, artisans made pottery, cloth, baskets,and jewelry. They sold their wares to pass-ing caravans (KAR • uh • VANZ), or groups oftraveling merchants. Because Babylon waslocated on the major trade route betweenthe Persian Gulf and the MediterraneanSea, it became rich from trade.

conquered nearly all of the lands theAssyrians had ruled. They made Babylonthe capital of their empire, and because ofthis, the Chaldean Empire is sometimescalled the New Babylonian Empire.

The City of Babylon The Chaldeans rebuiltthe city of Babylon as the glorious center oftheir empire. The city became the world’slargest and richest city. It was surrounded bya brick wall so wide that two chariots couldpass on the road on top of it. Built into thewall at 100-yard (91.4-m) intervals weretowers where soldiers kept watch.

Large palaces and temples stood in thecity’s center. A huge ziggurat reached morethan 300 feet (91.4 m) into the sky. Anothermarvel, visible from any point in Babylon,was an immense staircase of greenery: theHanging Gardens at the king’s palace.

40°E

50°E

30°E

40°N

35°N

200 km0Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection

200 mi.0

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Tigris

R.Euphrates R.

MediterraneanSea

PersianGulf

CaspianSea

SYRIA

JUDAH

EGYPT

C H A L D E A N S

P E R S I A N SA R A B I A N D E S E R T

M E D E SASSYRIAM

ESO

PO

TA

MIA

Tyre

Jerusalem

DamascusByblos

Nineveh

SusaBabylon

Chaldean Empire c. 605 B.C.

Original Chaldean settlementFarthest extent of Chaldean Empire

KEY

1. Location How far apart are thecities of Susa and Damascus?

2. Region How were thegeographical locations of theoriginal Chaldean settlement andJudah similar?

S. Fiore/SuperStock

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Babylon was also a center of science.Like earlier people in Mesopotamia, theChaldeans believed that changes in the sky revealed the plans of the gods. Theirastronomers (uh • STRAH • nuh • muhrs)—peo-ple who study the heavenly bodies—mapped the stars, the planets, and thephases of the moon. The Chaldeans madeone of the first sundials and were the first todevelop a seven-day week.

Why Did the Empire Fall? A number ofweak leaders, along with poor harvests anddecreased trade, caused the Chaldeans tolose their power. In 539 B.C. Persians fromthe northeast captured Babylon and madeMesopotamia part of the new PersianEmpire.

Identify What were theHanging Gardens of Babylon?

CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations 147

The Ishtar Gate was at the main entrance to ancient Babylon. Describe the wall that surrounded Babylon.

Reading SummaryReview the • Using cavalry and foot soldiers

armed with iron weapons, theAssyrians created a large empirethat included all of Mesopotamia and extended into Egypt.

• The Chaldeans built a largeempire in Mesopotamia thatincluded Babylon, the largest andrichest city in the world at thattime.

Study Central Need help understanding theAssyrians and Chaldeans? Visit ca.hss.glencoe.com and click on Study Central.

1. Why was the Assyrian army a powerful fighting force?

2. What were some of theaccomplishments of Chaldeanastronomers?

Critical Thinking3. Summarize Information

Draw a chart like the onebelow. Use it to describe the city of Babylon and why itbecame powerful.

4. Analyze How did theAssyrians set up a well-organized government?

5. Why do youthink the Assyrians took con-quered peoples from theirlands and moved them toother places?

6. Explain Why did theChaldeans join with the Medesto fight the Assyrians?

7. Science Link What differenttypes of knowledge and skillswould the Babylonians need to build the Hanging Gardens?

8. PosingQuestions Write four ques-tions about the Chaldeans youwould like answered. Use thelibrary and Internet to researchand write answers to yourquestions. CA HR1.

CA 6RC2.3

CA HI1.

CA CS3.

CA 6RC2.0

CA HI2.

Babylon Under Chaldeans

What Did You Learn?

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Cave Painting

One of the earliest forms of communicationwas through art. Beginning around 30,000 B.C.,people began to crush rocks to make powderfor painting on cave walls. The images theypainted include animals, hunting scenes, andpeople engaged in various activities. Thesepaintings may have had a religious meaningor may have been intended to record events.

Ancient Forms of Communication

Long before the rise of civilization, early people expressed themselvesthrough paintings. People may have used these images to explain the universe.Later, people in Mesopotamia began using writing not only to express theirideas, but also to record important events and tell stories. These include epicstories of heroes, proverbs about how to live properly, and law codes.

Study the painting and the passages that follow, and then answer the ques-tions on page 149.

old ones: the elders or leaders of thecity

Enkidu (ehn•KEE•doo): Gilgamesh’sfriend and traveling companion

Reader’s Dictionary

148 CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations

Sculpture ofchariot fromMesopotamia

This cave painting is in Lascaux, France.The cave is filled with images drawn orcarved by people during the PaleolithicAge, about 15,000 years ago. Theimages show animals and people, andtell stories about Paleolithic life.

WH6.2.9 Trace theevolution of languageand its written forms.

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Advice for Gilgamesh

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a legend about thetravels of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk in Babylonia.It was written about 2000 B.C. In the followingpassage, Gilgamesh is warned about going on adangerous adventure alone.The old ones shaped their mouths and spoke,

saying to Gilgamesh,“Do not trust all that strength of yours,

Gilgamesh.Make sure your eyes are wide, your blow cer-

tain.

The one who walks in front guards his friend;the one who knows the way safeguards his

companion.

Let Enkidu go before you as you march;he knows the way of the forest, to the cedars.He has seen battle, understands warfare.Enkidu will watch over the friend, make the

way safe for his companion.”

—Gilgamesh, John Gardner and John Maier, trans.

The Code of Hammurabi

The following is law seven from the Code ofHammurabi. He ruled Babylon from around 1792 B.C. to 1750 B.C.

7. If any one buy from the son or the slave ofanother man, without witnesses or a con-tract, silver or gold, a male or female slave,an ox or a sheep, an ass or anything, or if hetake it in charge, he is considered a thief andshall be put to death.

—“Code of Hammurabi,” L.W. King, trans.

Cave Painting

1. What kind of animals are shown?

2. Why do you think this image was painted?

Advice for Gilgamesh

3. What do the old ones tell Gilgamesh to doinstead of relying on his strength? Why?

4. Why do the old ones think it is a good ideafor Enkidu to accompany Gilgamesh?

The Code of Hammurabi

5. What is the punishment for making a dealwithout a witness or a contract?

6. Do you think the punishment would be thesame if there were a witness or a contract?Why?

Read to Write7. How do you think the author of the Epic of

Gilgamesh would have used words to expressthe image of the cave painting?

8. Based on the primary sources, explain whatvalues you think were important to people inancient Mesopotamia. How do these valuescompare to ours today? CA HI2.; HR4.

CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations 149

Stone monument showing Hammurabi(standing)

Scala/Art Resource, NY

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Standards WH6.1 & WH6.2

150 CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations

Review Content Vocabulary1. Write a brief paragraph that describes and

compares the following terms. archaeologist artifact

fossil anthropologist

Indicate which of the following statements aretrue. Replace the word in italics to make anyfalse statements true.

___ 2. An artisan kept records in cuneiform.___ 3. Assyrian kings divided their empire

into political districts called provinces.___ 4. A civilization is a group of many differ-

ent lands under one ruler.

Review the Section 1 • Early Humans

5. How did Paleolithic people adapt to theirenvironment?

6. What were the major differences betweenpeople who lived in the Paleolithic periodand those who lived in the Neolithicperiod?

Section 2 • Mesopotamian Civilization7. Where were the first civilizations in

Mesopotamia?8. What kinds of contributions did

Sumerians make?9. How did Sumerian city-states lose power?

Section 3 • New Empires10. What helped Assyria build an empire in

Mesopotamia?11. What scientific advancement did the

Chaldeans make?

Critical Thinking12. Explain Why do you think Mesopotamia

is sometimes called the “cradle of civilization”?

13. Analyze Why was the development offarming called a revolution? CA HI3.

CA 6RC2.3

Mercator projection2,000 km0

2,000 mi.0

EQUATOR

30°E 90°E 150°E

0°

30°S

30°N

60°N

150,000–200,000years ago

50,000years ago

25,000years ago

100,000years ago

40,000years ago

N

S

W E

AFRICA

ASIAEUROPE

AUSTRALIA

Spread of Early Humans

Movement ofearly humans

KEY

14. Describe What rights did women have inthe city-states of Sumer?

15. Predict How successful do you think theAssyrian army would have been if it hadnot learned how to strengthen iron?

Geography SkillsStudy the map below and answer the follow-ing questions.16. Location On what continent was the

earliest fossil evidence of humans found?

17. Movement Based on fossil evidence,where did early humans go first, Europe or Australia?

18. Analyze Which three continents are notshown on this map? How do you thinkearly humans reached those continents?

CA CS3.

CA CS3.

CA CS3.

CA HI4.

CA 6RC2.0

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Select the best answer for eachof the following questions.

Which of these was a purposeof the ziggurat in ancientMesopotamia?

A weapon storageB schoolhouseC office for recording votesD temple for worship

The importance of ancientpoems such as the Epic ofGilgamesh is that they continueto provide people with

A historically accurate descriptions of events.

B fantastic adventures with greatheroes.

C a deeper understanding offuture events.

D stories about real, historic people.

27

26

CHAPTER 1 • The First Civilizations 151

Read to Write19. Expository Writing Most of

what we know about early humanscomes from scientific discoveries. Writetwo to three paragraphs explaining howthese scientists help historians gatherinformation about the past.

20. Using Your Use your Chapter 1foldable to create an illustrated time line.Your time line should extend from the date Jericho was founded to the fall of the Chaldean Empire. Create drawings orphotocopy maps, artifacts, or architectureto illustrate your time line.

Using Academic Vocabulary21. Use the words listed below as you write a

two- to three-paragraph summary ofChapter 1. Make sure that you cover all ofthe important events and cultures thatappear in the chapter.

task coderevolution corecomplex intervalconsist route

Economics Connection22. Persuasive Writing Suppose you are a

merchant in Çatal Hüyük. A new group ofpeople wants to trade with your village.Write a short speech to persuade your vil-lage that there are economic benefits totrading with other people.

Linking Past and Present23. Analyzing Information Imagine you are

a nomad who travels from place to placeto hunt and gather food. What thingswould you carry with you to help you sur-vive? Make a list of items and discuss itwith your classmates.

Reviewing Skills

24. Previewing Imagine that afriend has to read Section 3. Write a fewparagraphs telling him or her how topreview the section. CA 6RC2.4

CA 6RC2.4

CA HI6.

CA HI1.

CA 6WS1.3

CA 6WA2.2

Self-Check Quiz To help you prepare forthe Chapter Test, visit ca.hss.glencoe.com

25. Researching Many impor-tant scientific discoveries, such as Lucy in1974, changed the way that scientistsunderstand early human history. Use yourlocal library to research the discovery byanthropologist Tim White in 1992. Whatkind of new information did this discoveryprovide about early hominids? Write aresearch paper describing the importanceof this discovery. CA HI5.

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