bible_ancthist

 

ANCIENT HISTORY

by Edith Shelton

 

ASSYRIA

Sargon II (722-705 B.C.)
  • Claimed conquest of Samaria, which was practically completed by Shalmaneser V in 722 B.C.
  • 717 B.C. Carchemish, last of Hittite states on upper Euphrates fell to Sargon.
  • 721 B.C. Chaldean kinglet Marduk-apal-iddina (Merodach Baladan) made himself king of Babylon —
  • Sargon tried to take over and failed;
    ten years later (711 or 710) he “liberated” Babylon from Chaldeans and called himself “governor of Babylon.”
  • Did much building in Ashur, Nineveh, Babylon, Dur-Sharrukin — magnificient palace, walls with bas-reliefs.
  • Sargon died on a military expedition.

 

Sennacherib (704-681 B.C.)
  • Son of Sargon, gifted military commander, arrogant, created hatred, alienated from own sons.
  • Had revolted against his father; is killed by his sons.
  • 701 B.C. — crushed Phoenicean-Philistine alliance, occupied all of Judah except Jerusalem. Deliverance of Jerusalem in Kings and Isaiah.
  • Much trouble with Babylon. Merodach Baladan back on throne for 6 months sometime during first years of Sennacherib.
  • In 689 B.C. Sennacherib finally conquered Babylon and leveled it, deporting inhabitants, water channeled over ruins.
  • Little known of his last years.

 

Esarhaddon (680-669 B.C.)
  • Son of Sennacherib.
  • Conquered Egypt, but weakened defenses of north border.
  • Rebuilt Babylon, temples, etc. and returned the citizens.
  • 673 B.C. – first expedition to Egypt was stopped.
  • Second expedition – named younger son, Ashurbanipal, coregent and heir — Babylon to oldest son — grave political mistake — Memphis fell.
  • On way to subdue revolt in Egypt, Esarhaddon died Oct 669 B.C.

 

Ashurbanipal (668-c.631 B.C.)
  • Son of Esarhaddon – last of great Assyrian kings, commander, statesman, hunter, art collector, lover of antiquities, library in Nineveh 20,000 tablets, main works of Assyrian-Babylonian lit., but ruthless in war.
  • In Egypt – father’s expedition carried to triumphant conclusion by commander Shanabusher.
  • 7 years later Egypt revolted – Assyrians returned – Thebes fell 663 B.C.
  • Tyre conquered after 10 year siege – Assyria attained height of its power.
  • Revolt of brother in Babylon with coalition of Assyrian enemies 652 B.C. — civil war 4 years, weakened Assyria — Babylon subdued — Kandalanu put on throne. Elam invaded and conquered. Susa destroyed 639 B.C.
  • No effort to re-take Egypt.
  • Revenues and manpower no longer equal to maintaining empire.
  • Date of death uncertain.

 

Ashur-etil-ilani (c.630-628 B.C.)
  • Son of Ashurbanipal – Able to retain Babylon and repel Medes.
  • 627 B.C. Usurper Sin-shum-lishir took throne, but he was deposed by another son of Ashurbanipal.

 

Sin-shar-ishkun (c.627-612 B.C.)
  • Able to subdue Babylonian revolt under Kandalanu.
  • Chaldean Nabopolassar claimed throne of Babylon – his authority undisputed after 625 B.C.
  • Power of Media increasing — Assyria, Scythia and Egypt make alliance.
  • Cyaxares the Mede defeats Scythians 616 B.C. while Nabopolassar defeats Assyrians.
  • Egypt assisted Assyria, but in 614 B.C. Cyaxares conquered Ashur, Assyrian king died.
  • July 612 B.C. Nineveh fell to Medes and Chaldeans — Nineveh, Kalah, all important cities razed.

 

Ashur-uballit II assumed kingship in Haran with help of Egypt.  610 B.C. fell to Medes and Chaldeans, withdrew to northern Syria.

 

NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE

Nabopolassar (625-605 B.C.)
  • “Son of nobody” – claimed kingship after Kandalanu.
  • Revolted against Assyria and was put down.
  • Made treaty with Cyaxares, king of Medes — Media would take northern Mesopotamia, leaving Nabopolassar free in middle Babylon and Syria.
  • Participated with Media in destroying Assyria.
  • Sent general and crown-prince, his son, Nebuchadnezzar, to gain Syria after conquest of Harran.
  • 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt at Carchemish.
  • Second victory at Hamath on Orontes — gained control of Syria and Palestine to border of Egypt.
    (This must include siege of Jerusalem in Daniel 1:1)
  • Nabopolassar restored sanctuaries of Babylon, built a bridge over the Euphrates, connecting the two sections of the city

 

Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 B.C.)
  • Greatest of kings of Babylon — much building activity.
  • 601 B.C. battle with Pharaoh Amasis.
  • 597 B.C. stormed Jerusalem, took Jehoiachin & his mother hostages.
    9 years later Zedekiah revolted, relying on support of Egypt.
  • 586 B.C. Jerusalem fell after siege of 18 mo.
  • 586 B.C. Nabonidus — high official, later king — negotiated a peace treaty between Media and Lydia.
  • Tyre fell after siege of 13 years – spoils not worth the trouble.
  • Babylon — area of six square miles.

 

Amel-Marduk (Evil-Merodach) (561-560 B.C.)
  • Son of Nebuchadnezzar, little known of him.
  • Freed Jehoiachin from prison after 37 years.
  • Driven from throne by brother-in-law.

 

Nergal-shar-usur (Neriglissar) (c.560-556 B.C.)
  • Brother-in-law of Amel-Marduk.
  • Directed military campaign against Taurus and defeated.
  • Rising power of Persia a threat.
  • Rift between priests of Marduk in Babylon and Aramaic priests of Sin, the moon god, at Ur and Harran.
  • Died after short reign.

 

Labashi-Marduk
  • Son of Neriglissar.
  • Priests of moon god, Sin, had him murdered and put Nabonidus on throne.

 

Nabonidus (555-539 B.C.)
  • Native of Harran; mother a high-priestess of Sin;
    devoted to moon god; built temples in Ur and Harran.
    (Not surprising that priests of Marduk greeted Cyrus as a liberator.)
  • No revolution during time of Nabonidus.
  • Supported Cyrus in his struggle against Astyages of Media 550/549.
  • Fortified Harran as emergency capital for future confrontation with Cyrus.
  • Alliance with Arabs — needed interest in trade routes to south and west — couldn’t go east because of Persia;
    garrisons and colonies as far south as Medina on Red Sea.
  • Made son Bel-shar-urur (Belshazzar) co-regent in Babylon.
  • Omissions of New Year festival caused discontent; Celebration in 539 B.C. but too late.
  • A general of Babylon joined Cyrus.
  • Battle at Sippar, Gobryas forced crossing of Tigris.
  • Oct 12, 539 B.C. (2 days after above) Persians entered Babylon without fighting: Nabonidus taken prisoner; Belshazzar apparently killed in a palace skirmish.
  • Oct. 29 Cyrus entered Babylon.

 

MEDIA

Medes and Persians were part of an Aryan invasion from beyond the Caucasus Mts. in middle of 2nd millenium B.C. Medes first to attain political organization — about 700 B.C.

 

Deioces
  • First king according to Herodotus.
  • Founded capital at Ecbatana.

 

Phraortes
  • Son of Deioces;
  • active against Assyrians at time of Esarhaddon.
  • Scythian invasion stopped Median growth 653-625 B.C.

 

Cyaxares (625-585 B.C.)
  • Took Media from Barbarians.
  • Attacked Assyria – captured Ashur 614 B.C.
  • 612 B.C. – with Nabopolassar captured Nineveh.
  • Crossed River Halys, almost crushing Lydia; peace treaty negotiated by Nabonidus.

 

Astyages (585-550 B.C.)
  • Great wealth, interest in war declined.
  • Had held Persia as vassal, but tables turned.
  • As long as Nebuchadnezzar lived (562 B.C.) peaceful relations between Media and Babylon; under weak successors of Neb., Medes and Persians encroached.
  • Daughter of Astyages married Cambyses I of Persia; son Cyrus the Great conquered Media and Babylon.

 

PERSIA

Teispes (675-640 B.C.)
  • Son of Achaemenes.
  • First Persian king to distinguish himself.
  • Two sons – Cyrus I, the older, inherited Parsumash, and
    Ariaramnes, inherited Persia proper.
  • Cyaxares defeated Scythians and may have annexed Persia.
  • Cyrus I left in control of Parsumash as vassal king.

 

Cambyses I
  • Second son of Cyrus I – brother carried off to Nineveh as hostage by Ashurbanipal.
  • Married daughter of Astyages of Media.

 

Cyrus II (559-530 B.C.)
  • Grandson of Astyages of Media – son of Cambyses I.
  • First occupied throne as vassal to Astyages.
  • After six years rebelled – Media surrendered in one battle; Median army rebelled, handed their king to Cyrus.
  • Crossed Halys River, defeated Lydian army, occupied Sardis, its capital, 546 B.C. Croesus, its king, treated with leniency.
  • 539 B.C. entered Babylon.
  • Media, Assyria, Lydia and Babylon incorporated into Persian empire.
  • 539 B.C. decree for Jewish captives to return to Jerusalem to rebuild temple.
  • Died in battle against barbarians on northern boundary.

 

Cambyses II (529-522 B.C.)
  • Put his brother Smerdis to death;
  • Defeated Egyptians, occupied Memphis.
  • Killed wife, shot son with arrow, buried 12 Persian nobles alive — outbursts of insanity.
  • On way to Persia to subdue revolt died or committed suicide.

 

Gaumata – Pseudo Smerdis, the usurper.
  • Devotee of the early Magian faith;
    resolved to destroy Zoroastrianism, official religion of Persia.
  • Killed by Darius.

 

Darius I (521-486 B.C.)
  • Claimed to be descendant of Teispes and Ariaramnes.
  • Behistun inscription in Old Persian, Elamite, Akkadean tells of long struggle to gain control.
  • Took Babylon after long siege.
  • Great administrator – postal service.
  • 36 years consolidating his empire —
    borders of Libya and Aegean coast in west to River Indus in east.
    Black and Caspian Seas to north, Indian Ocean on south.
  • When Greek cities revolted, Darius declared war on Greece.
  • 492 B.C. Persian fleet wrecked in storm off Mt. Athos.
  • Second expedition landed at Marathon, defeated by Athenians under Miltiades in 490 B.C.
  • While preparing for 3rd attack, Darius died.

 

Xerxes (486-465 B.C.)
  • Son of Darius – Ahasuerus of Ezra 4:6.
  • 484 B.C. reconquered Egypt which had revolted – made a satrapy.
  • 482 B.C. crushed a revolt in Babylon — Babylonia incorporated into satrapy of Assyria.
  • Campaigns against Greece a total failure:
    480 B.C. – naval battle of Salamis – navy routed,
    479 B.C. – battle of Platea – army defeated,
    479 B.C. – another Persian fleet destroyed.
  • Much building in Persepolis.
  • Assassinated in bed chamber by group of conspirators.

 

Artaxerxes I (465-423 B.C.) (Longimanus)
  • Had to put down revolts in Bactria and Egypt.
  • Time of Herodotus, visited Egypt then
    7th year — decree in Ezra 7 authorizing Jews to return under Ezra.
  • 20th year (13 years later) Nehemiah, cup-bearer, sent as governor of Judah to rebuild walls.
  • After 445 B.C. Thrace lost, Greek fleet in Mediterranean, Persian power waning.

 

Xerxes II (423 B.C. — 45 days.)
  • Overcome by a half-brother, who was in turn defeated by another half-brother, Vahuka, or Ochos, who assumed title of Darius.

 

Darius II (423-404 B.C.)
  • Many revolts.
  • Jewish colony in Egypt (408) wrote to Bigwai, Persian governor, for Jerusalem for aid to get permission from Persia to rebuild their temple.
  • 404 B.C. Egypt regained independence.

 

Artaxerxes II (404-358 B.C.)
  • Oldest son of Darius II.
  • Opposed by brother Cyrus who should have been king under law.
  • Cyrus killed at battle of Cunaxa (401). Xenophon wrote of retreat of Greeks (mercenaries hired by Cyrus) “Anabasis”
  • 374 B.C. Attempt to reconquer Egypt failed.

 

Artaxerxes III (358-337 B.C.)
  • Original name Vahuka. Got rid of rivals. Killed 80 brothers.
  • Put down revolts in Asia Minor, Cyprus, Phoenicia.
  • 342 B.C. reconquered Egypt.
  • Bagoas poisoned king and older sons. Spared younger Arses.

 

Arses (337-336 B.C.)
  • Not a willing puppet; also killed.

 

Darius III (336-331 B.C.)
  • Put on throne by Bagoas, had Bagoas poisoned.
  • Conquest of Persia by Alexander – began 334 B.C.;
    battles of Granicus, Issus, Arbella.
  • Darius fled, murdered by own officers.
  • Whole Persian empire fell under control of Alexander.



Persian empire was largest to that time. Main capital at Susa; summer (?) palace at Persepolis (Greek name – Persian name Parsa).   Council of seven — high officials included cup-bearer (Nehemiah’s position).   Aramaic common language through empire.   Persian in cuneiform script became limited to monument inscriptions.   20 satrapies, under satrap, who was immediate representative of king.   

Unity
  • uniform jurisprudence,
  • net of royal roads,
  • postal system for govt. and business,
  • uniform currency,
  • universal use of Aramaic language and script;

 

but neither cultural or spiritual bond of unity;  increasing reliance on mercenary troops.

 

Religion

Zoroaster is Greek form of Zarathustra, prophet of 7th century B.C. — writings of faith Avesta dates from 200 B.C.

  • Ahuramazda, good god – monotheism.
  • Zoroaster himself unable to explain evil; dualism arose later.
    Ahriman — evil spirit.
  • Zoroaster is prophet, not law giver;
  • real life beyond grave;
    glorious consummation — total triumph of Ahuramazda;
  • ethical life; brotherhood of man; kindness to animals.