There were many changes in power in Mesopotamia over thousands of years as different empires rose and fell. The Hittites were the first to use iron weapons around 1600-900 BC but lost their advantage when iron technology spread. The Assyrians built a powerful militaristic empire from 850-612 BC conquering Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia under King Ashurbanipal and constructing a massive capital and library at Nineveh. The Chaldeans or "New Babylonians" then ruled from 612-550 BC under King Nebuchadnezzar, establishing the new capital of Babylon and building the Hanging Gardens. Finally, Cyrus the Great's Persian Empire arose from 550-

1. 3500 B.C. 2330 B.C. 1800 B.C. 1600 B.C. 900 B.C. 600 B.C. 539 B.C.
Mesopotamian Empires
Sumer Akkadians Babylonians Hittites Assyrians Chaldeans
“New Babylonians”
Persians
Critical Intro:
Write a thesis for why you think there were so
many changes of power in Mesopotamia.

2. Dates Empire Empire Accomplishments
1600-900
B.C.E.
Hittites
850-612
B.C.E.
Assyrians
612-550
B.C.E.
Chaldeans
“New
Babylonians
”
550-330
B.C.E.
Persians
Mesopotamian Empires
- First empire to make iron weapons!
- Big military advantage over bronze.
- Lost advantage when iron tech. spread
- Militaristic empire: iron weapons, body armor,
tunneling under walls.
- Conquered Egypt, Palestine & Mesopotamia
- King Ashurbanipal = Largest empire
- Built massive capital at Nineveh
- Built great library at Nineveh – 25,000 tablets
- New capital at Babylon = “New Babylonians”
- King Nebuchadnezzar
- Conquered Jewish kingdom
- Imprisoned Jews = Babylonian Captivity
- Built legendary “Hanging Gardens of
Babylon”
- “Cyrus the Great” begins Persian Empire
- Created provinces to better rule
- “Tolerance” ruling strategy
- Allowed conquered people to keep
culture
- Keep religion, laws, organization

3. Hittites (1600-900 B.C): Warlike people who began in Asia Minor and eventually conquered much of the
surrounding region (by about 1750 B.C.). They were very successful at warfare, mainly because they were
the first people to use iron weapons. The Hittite capital was Hattusa, a massive city that had tremendous
walls. They were also the first people to sign a treaty with another civilization. In 1284 B.C., the Hittite king
Hattusili III signed a treaty with King Ramses II of Egypt. Each civilization agreed not to attack the other and
to defend the other if attacked by a third civilization.
1. Why would the Hittites want to sign a treaty with
Egypt?
2. Why do you think the Hittites eventually lost their
military advantage?
3. Most of the Hittite Empire was located in which
modern country?

5. Assyrian Empire

6. Assyrian Soldiers
Impaled enemies

8. Assyrian Battering Rams

9. Assyrian King Ashurbanipal
Built capital at Nineveh
Built great library at Nineveh

10. Great Assyrian Capital - Nineveh

11. Gilgamesh tablet from Nineveh library
Tablet from Nineveh library

12. Nebuchadnezzar – Chaldean or “New Babylonian” ruler

13. Nebuchadnezzar’s Hanging Gardens of Babylon

14. Nebuchadnezzar’s Hanging Gardens of Babylon

15. Cyrus the Great
•1st great king of
Persian Empire
•Ruled subjects
with Tolerance
•Respected
religions of
others

16. Persian Empire and Royal Road

17. Dates Empire Empire Accomplishments
1600-900
B.C.E.
Hittites
- First empire to make _____________!
- Big military advantage over bronze.
- Lost advantage when iron tech. spread
850-612
B.C.E.
Assyrians - Militaristic empire: iron weapons, body armor,
tunneling under walls.
- Conquered _______________________________
- King _______________________= Largest empire
- Built massive capital at __________________
- Great _______ ___at Nineveh – 25,000 tablets
612-550
B.C.E.
Chaldeans
“New
Babylonians
”
- New capital at Babylon = “New Babylonians”
- King _____________________________
- Conquered Jewish kingdom
- Imprisoned Jews = _____________________
- Built legendary “Hanging Gardens of
Babylon”
550-330
B.C.E.
Persians - “____________________” begins Persian Empire
- Created ___________________to better rule
- “_____________________” ruling strategy
- Allowed conquered people to keep culture
- ___________________________________
___________________________________
Mesopotamian Empires

18. Dates Empire Empire Accomplishments
1600-900
B.C.E.
Hittites
850-612
B.C.E.
Assyrians
612-550
B.C.E.
Chaldeans
“New
Babylonians
”
550-330
B.C.E.
Persians
Mesopotamian Empires