III.

The Assyrian and Chaldean Empires

About 1350 bc, the northern Mesopotamian kingdom of Assyria began to assert itself. Assyrian armies defeated Mitanni, conquered Babylon briefly about 1225 bc, and reached the Mediterranean about 1100 bc. Over the next two centuries, this expansion was halted by Aramaeans from the Syrian steppe and, with the help of Chaldeans they overran Babylonia. Assyria fought these and other peoples, expanding again after 910 bc. At its greatest extent (c. 730-650 bc) the Assyrian Empire controlled the Middle East from Egypt to the Persian Gulf. Conquered regions were left under client kings or, if troublesome, annexed. Following ancient practice, rebellious subjects were deported, resulting in a mixture of races across the empire. Frequent revolts demanded a strong military machine, but it could not maintain control of so vast a realm for long. Internal pressures and attacks from the peoples of Media and the Chaldeans in Babylonia caused Assyria to collapse in 612 bc. The Medes took the hill country, leaving Mesopotamia to the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar II. The Chaldeans ruled Mesopotamia until 539 bc, when Cyrus the Great of Persia, who had conquered Media, captured Babylon.