The Ancient Near East

I. Hebrews: "The Children of Israel"
     Abraham
     Moses
   A. United Kingdom
     1. Saul, the First King
     2. David and Jerusalem
     3. Solomon's Temple 

B. Divided Kingdom: Captivity and Return
     1. Israel
         Northern Kingdom of Israel
         capital: Samaria
         conquered by Assyria, 722
     2. Judah
         fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar, 587
         Babylonian Captivity 

C. Spiritual Dimensions of Israel
     1. Yahweh as God
     2. Hebrew Bible: Covenant, Law, and Prophets 

D. Social Structure of the Hebrews
     1. Men of Rank and Influence
     2. Marriage and the Family
     3. Men and Women

II. Neighbors of the Israelites: Phoenicians
   A. Explorers to the West
      1. trade
      2. Carthage
   B. Alphabet

III.Assyrian Empire
   A. Ashurbanipal
   B. Military Machine
   C. Society and Culture
     1. Free and Nonfree
     2. Agriculture and Trade
     3. Relief Sculpture

Assyrian empire (ca. 1000-612). Assyrians a Semitic people that migrated into upper Tigris valley at time of Akkadians. Assyrians emerged as militarily aggressive warrior empire by about 900 BC. Conquest of Mesopotamia achieved by 824 BC, but civil wars led to internal anarchy. Empire restored by Tiglathpileser III (745-727 BC), conquered Phoenicia, Israel, Babylon, and Medes (Iran).
Sargon II (721-705) destroyed Israel;
Sennacherab (704-681) sacked Babylon (689);
Esarhaddon (680-669) invaded Egypt.
King Assurbanipal (668-631) established palaces at Nineveh, Assur, and Nimrud.

Excavations have recovered Assyrian wall reliefs of their conquests. Assurbanipal's library collected and preserved texts of Near Eastern literature.

Assyrians were an ethnic minority within their own empire and relied on Assyrian farmer warriors, but feared
rebellions. Resorted to forms of state terrorism to keep subject states under control. Brutally suppressed rebellions, including destruction of cities, enslavement of populations, and mass deportations. Made them hated by all neighbors. By the late 600s rebellions were led by Babylonians and Medes, who combined forces to crush Assyria, destroying Nineveh in 612 BC.
 

IV. Neo-Babylonian Empire
  A. Nebuchadnezzar II
  B. City of Babylon
     1. Hanging Gardens

Neo-Babylonia or Chaldea (626-539 BC).
Nebuchadnezzar (605-562), sacked Jerusalem 586, destroyed the Temple, enslaved Jewish hierarchy and brought them
to Babylon (Babylonian Captivity), The last king, Nabonidus, was defeated by Cyrus the Great of Persia, 539. The Jews were
allowed to return to Jerusalem.