The Probert Encyclopaedia of Places of the World

BABYLONIA

Babylonia was an old Asiatic empire occupying the region watered by the lower course of the Euphrates and the Tigris, and by their combined stream. The inhabitants, though usually designated Babylonians, were sometimes called Chaldeans, and it is thought that the latter name represents a superior caste who at a comparatively late period gained influence in the country. At the earliest period of which we have record the whole valley of the Tigris and Euphrates was inhabited by tribes of Turanian or Tatar origin. Along with these, however, there early existed an intrusive Semitic element, which gradually increased in number until at the time the Babylonians and Assyrians (the latter being a kindred people) became known to the western historians they were essentially Semitic peoples. The great city Babylon, or Babel, was the capital of Babylonia, which was called by the Hebrews Shinar. The country was, as it still is, exceedingly fertile, and must have anciently supported a dense population. The chief cities, besides Babylon, were Ur, Calneh, Erech, and Sippara. Babylonia and Assyria were often spoken of together as Assyria.

The discovery and interpretation of the cuneiform inscriptions have enabled the history of Babylonia to be carried back to about 4000 BC, at which period the inhabitants had attained a considerable degree of civilization, and the country was ruled by a number of kings or princes each in his own city. About 2700 BC Babylonia came under the rule of a single monarch. Latterly it had serious wars with neighbouring nations, and for several hundred years previous to 2000 BC Babylonia was subject to the neighbouring Elam. It then regained its independence, and for a thousand years it was the foremost state of Western Asia in power, as well as in science, art, and civilization. The rise of the Assyrian empire brought about the decline of Babylonia, which latterly was under Assyrian domination, though with intervals of independence, Tiglath-Pileser II. of Assyria (745-727) made himself master of Babylonia; but the conquest of the country had to be repeated by his successor, Sargon, who expelled the Babylonian king, Merodach-Baladan, and all but finally subdued the country, the complete subjugation being effected by Sennacherib. After some sixty years the second or later Babylonian empire arose under Nabopolassar, who, joining the Modes against the Assyrians, freed Babylon from the superiority of the latter power, 625 BC The new empire was at its height of power and glory under Nabopolassar's son, Nebuchadnezzar (604-561), who subjected Jerusalem, Tyre, Phoenicia, and even Egypt, and carried his dominion to the shores of the Mediterranean and northwards to the Armenian mountains. The capital, Babylon, was rebuilt by him, and then formed one of the greatest and most magnificent cities the world has ever seen. He was succeeded by his son Evil-Merodach, but the dynasty soon came to an end, the last king being Nabonetus or Nabonadius, who came to the throne in 555 BC, and made his son, Belshazzar, co-ruler with him. Babylon was taken by Cyrus the Persian monarch in 538, and
e second Babylonian empire came to an end, Babylonia being incorporated in the Persian empire. Its subsequent history was similar to that of Assyria.

Babylonian culture was similar to that of Assyria, but with some differences. In Babylonia stone was not to be had, and consequently brick was the almost universal building material. Sculpture was thus less developed in Babylonia than in Assyria, and painting more. Babylonian art had also more of a religious character than that of Assyria, and the chief edifices found in ruins are temples. Weaving and pottery were carried to high perfection. Astronomy was cultivated from the earliest times. The Babylonians had a number of deities, but latterly the chief or national deity was Bel Merodach, originally the Sun-god. Education was well attended to, and there were schools and libraries in connection with the temples. On the inscribed tablets that have been discovered are writings relating to religion, law, magic, poems, etc.
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