Third Period — Babylonia: Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire 625 B.C. Fall of Assyria, 606 B.C.— Almost simultaneously with the death of Assurbanipal (626 a.c.) we find one of his former generals, Nabopolassar, a Chaldean by descent, securing the throne of Babylon for himself (625-605 a.c.). While he was developing and extending his influence and grasp over the territory that was naturally trib utary to Babylon, momentous events were oc curring in the north country, in and about As syria. The growing Median power threatened its very life. One son of Assurbanipal, Assur etil-ilani and possibly a brother, Sin-shar ishkun, occupied the Assyrian throne, the for mer about six and the latter about seven years. The waves of the Umman-Manda, peoples to the north and northeast of Nineveh, were roll ing over the mountains of eastern Armenia and northern Media. According to an inscription of Nabonidus, written about 553 B.C., these mountaineers, in conjunction with the Medes, finally succeeded in overwhelming Nineveh, the last hiding-place of the Assyrian tyrant and op pressor, in 606 B.C. ; this was done probably with the direct or indirect support of Nabopolassar of Babylon.
Nebuchadrezzar II, 604-561 B.C.— Si multaneously with the fall of Nineveh we find an Egyptian army under Necho encamped in northern Syria, in full possession of the eastern M coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In a crushing defeat Nebuchadrezzar overthrew and pursued the Egyptian invaders, and secured that terri tory for the new Babylonian empire. Within the 43 years of his reign, Nebuchadrezzar made Babylon the up-to-that-time greatest of em pires. His authority extended, on biblical evi dence, even into Egypt, and his activities were something phenomenal. In fact, the larger part of his inscriptions already found are devoted to his immense building projects, including temples, palaces, streets, embankments and walls. Babylon was built in great magnificence, and in every important aspect did credit to the enterprise and genius of Babylonia's greatest monarch. His own records thus far found do not give us any account of his dealings with the Jews, either at Jerusalem or those in exile — described in the Old Testament. After a long and prosperous reign he was succeeded on the throne by his son, Evil-Merodach. This king was assassinated after a reign of two years (561-559 a.c.), by Neriglissar, his brother-in law. This usurper ruled four years (559-555 a.c.), and spent most of his time, according to his inscriptions, in building operations. 'At his death his son, Labashi-Marduk, not yet of age, succeeded him, but fell under the assassin's dagger within nine months.
Nabonidus, 555-538 B.C. By some ma
chinations of the priesthood, apparently, the new king, Nabonidus, was a native Babylonian and not a Chaldean as was the dynasty of Na bopolassar. He was an enthusiastic religionist and antiquarian. He built and rebuilt many temples in the principal cities of his kingdom. He was the discoverer, in the foundations of a temple, as already stated, of an inscription of Sargon I, which had been placed there 3,200 years before his day, making the date of said Sargon, on his calculation, about 3750 a.c., or, as corrected, 2650 B.C. Nabonidus' enthusiasm carried him too far, for he attempted to cen tralize in Babylon the religion of the kingdom. In doing this he alienated the priesthood, and even aroused their active opposition. For throughout the history of Babylonia each city had its own patron deity, to whom its temple was dedicated and its people devoted. The images and shrines of these various divinities were collected in Babylon. This act, with others of similar offense to the priests, paved the way for his downfall before a mightier power.
Cyrus, 538529 B.C.— Cyrus. an Elamite and Persian by descent, began an active career as a conqueror in 558 B.C. He conquered suc cessively the Medes under Astyages (550 tic.), Crcesus and Asia Minor (547 tic.), and then moved against Nabonidus, who had allied him self against this new conqueror. The Baby lonian army was probably under the command of Nabonidus' son, Belshazzar. Suffering a de feat at Opis, the army of Babylon later scarcely offered resistance. Cyrus marched, almost with out further opposition, to the gates of the cap ital city. The priesthood and citizens, in open defiance of their own king, flung open the gates and welcomed the new and liberal conqueror to authority over them. Cyrus re stored the gods to their cities and shrittes, and permitted enforced exiles to return to their native places and lands. Besides, he became one of the ardent worshippers of the gods of the land and established himself as a liberty-loving, people-serving potentate.
The fall of Babylon before the advance of Cyrus meant the fall of Semitic sway in Baby lonia, and the rise of Aryan power. The cunei form tongue served the purpose of a language in Babylonia for long years after this revolu tion. In fact, throughout the Persian and Greek periods, this same language was used in Babylonia, particularly in writing contract tab lets. There are some inscriptions dating from the Parthian era, due doubtless to the enthusi astic support of the priesthood of those times. Thus for nearly or quite 4,000 years the cunei form language was the vehicle of expression for the peoples of Babylonia.