Empires of the Fertile Crescent

Hittites

War-like people from Asia Minor Invaded Mesopotamia c. 1700 BC

(Hittite) Achievements

First to smelt iron Most important – Law & Government

Only major crimes received the death penalty People paid fines

Kings were chief-priests Yet, they allowed religious freedom

Hittites

When they invaded, they conquered and looted Babylon (c. 1600 BC)

Hittites

Babylon was TOO FAR!! Only controlled Babylon for a short period of time

before withdrawing west Remained powerful until c. 1200 BC

Entire region began to suffer invasions from the Sea Peoples

Assyrians

Semitic-speaking people from northern Mesopotamia

As early as 2000 BC... Settled city of Ashur on upper Tigris Adapted many elements of Sumerian culture

Assyrians

Dominated by others for centuries Briefly established an empire in the 1300s

Gradually recovered, then began dominating the area

900 BC – 650 BC Expanded from Fertile Crescent into Egypt

Assyrians

At height, included all of Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and the Nile River Valley

Capital City

Ninevah Great Wall

HUGE double wall 70 ft high – some parts were 148 ft thick!! Stretched 7.5 miles around the city

Fall of Assyria

635 BC – Civil War breaks out Made it too weak to protect itself 612 BC - A large group led by the Chaldeans and

the Medes captures and destroys Nineveh