4.3 Assyrian and Babylonian conquests

The Assyrian and Babylonian conquests reshaped the ancient Near East during the Iron Age. These powerful empires expanded their territories, clashing with the kingdoms of Israel and Judah in a series of military campaigns.

Archaeological evidence, including destruction layers and monumental inscriptions, provides insights into these conquests. The fall of Samaria and the siege of Jerusalem stand out as pivotal events, dramatically altering the political landscape of the region.

Neo-Assyrian Empire

Rise and Expansion

Top images from around the web for Rise and Expansion

• 

  Assyrian captivity - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Category:Maps of the Neo-Assyrian Empire – Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Neo-Assyrian Empire - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Assyrian captivity - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Category:Maps of the Neo-Assyrian Empire – Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Rise and Expansion

• 

  Assyrian captivity - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Category:Maps of the Neo-Assyrian Empire – Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Neo-Assyrian Empire - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Assyrian captivity - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Category:Maps of the Neo-Assyrian Empire – Wikimedia Commons View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Neo-Assyrian Empire emerged as a dominant power in the ancient Near East during the Iron Age (934-609 BCE)
• Tiglath-Pileser III (744-727 BCE) initiated a period of expansion and consolidation
  • Introduced reforms to the Assyrian army and administration
  • Conquered territories in Syria, Palestine, and Babylonia
• Sargon II (721-705 BCE) continued the expansionist policies
  • Defeated the Kingdom of Israel and captured its capital, Samaria, in 722 BCE
  • Deported a significant portion of the Israelite population (known as the "Lost Tribes")
• Sennacherib (705-681 BCE) further expanded the empire
  • Conducted successful military campaigns against Babylon, Judah, and Egypt
  • Constructed the "Palace Without a Rival" in Nineveh, which included the famous Lachish reliefs depicting the siege of Lachish

Interactions with the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah

• Fall of Samaria in 722 BCE marked the end of the Kingdom of Israel
  • Assyrians captured the capital city and deported a significant portion of the population
  • Resettled the region with people from other conquered territories
• Tel Dan Stele, an Aramaic inscription discovered in northern Israel, provides evidence of the Assyrian conquest
  • Mentions the "House of David" and a king of Israel, likely Jehoram or Ahaziah
  • Demonstrates the interactions between the Assyrian Empire and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Neo-Babylonian Empire

Rise and Dominance

• Neo-Babylonian Empire (626-539 BCE) emerged as the dominant power in the region after the fall of the Assyrian Empire
• Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE) was the most prominent ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
  • Conducted successful military campaigns against Judah and Egypt
  • Responsible for the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Conquest of Judah and the Babylonian Captivity

• Siege of Jerusalem in 587/586 BCE resulted in the destruction of the city and the First Temple
  • Nebuchadnezzar II captured Jerusalem and deported a significant portion of the population to Babylon
  • Event is known as the Babylonian Captivity or the Babylonian Exile
  • Captivity lasted until the Persians allowed the Jews to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple (538 BCE)
• Lachish reliefs, discovered in the palace of Sennacherib in Nineveh, depict the Assyrian siege and conquest of the Judahite city of Lachish
  • Provide visual evidence of the military campaigns conducted by the Neo-Babylonian Empire against Judah

Archaeological Evidence

Destruction Layers

• Destruction layers found in various sites across Israel and Judah provide evidence of the Assyrian and Babylonian conquests
  • Layers of ash, burnt material, and collapsed structures indicate violent destruction
  • Examples include destruction layers at Lachish, Azekah, and Jerusalem

Monumental Inscriptions and Reliefs

• Lachish reliefs, discovered in the palace of Sennacherib in Nineveh, depict the Assyrian siege and conquest of Lachish
  • Provide detailed visual representation of Assyrian military tactics and the destruction of the city
• Tel Dan Stele, an Aramaic inscription, mentions the "House of David" and a king of Israel
  • Offers evidence of the interactions between the Assyrian Empire and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Key Historical Events

• Fall of Samaria in 722 BCE, marking the end of the Kingdom of Israel
  • Archaeological evidence supports the Assyrian conquest and destruction of the city
• Siege of Jerusalem in 587/586 BCE, resulting in the destruction of the city and the First Temple
  • Destruction layers and Babylonian records corroborate the event and its significance in the history of Judah