Neo-Babylonian Period (626–539 BCE)

Babylonia’s Second Golden Age

This is the most famous era of Babylon.

Founded by the Chaldean Dynasty under Nabopolassar, who rebelled against the Assyrians.

Nabopolassar (626–605 BCE)

  • Overthrew Assyrian rule with help from the Medes.

  • Reestablished Babylon’s independence.

Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BCE)

Babylon’s greatest king after Hammurabi.

Major Achievements:

  • Massive building projects, including:

    • The legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Wonders)

    • The Ishtar Gate

    • The Processional Way

    • The restoration and expansion of the city walls

  • Conquered Jerusalem and expanded the empire to the Mediterranean.

  • Created one of the ancient world’s most beautiful capitals.

Nabonidus (556–539 BCE)

  • The last king of Babylonia.

  • Known for religious reforms (worship of the moon god Sin).

  • His absence from Babylon weakened political stability.

Fall to Persia

In 539 BCE, Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon peacefully, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

Army

  • Professional, powerful, and technologically advanced.

  • Units:

    • Infantry with iron weapons

    • Archers with composite bows

    • Chariot corps

    • Early cavalry units

  • Massive siege capabilities:

    • Siege towers

    • Battering rams

    • Earth ramps

  • Nebuchadnezzar conducted successful campaigns in Syria, Judah, and Phoenicia.

People & Society

  • Cosmopolitan empire: Babylonians, Chaldeans, Aramaeans, Jews, Phoenicians.

  • Large urban population — Babylon became the largest city in the world.

  • Growth of scholarship, astronomy, and mathematics.

  • Strong merchant and artisan classes.

Religion

  • Marduk was the supreme god.

  • Enormous temples restored or rebuilt.

  • The Akitu New Year Festival was the biggest religious event.

  • Priests produced advanced astronomical and astrological texts.

Economy

  • Booming trade across the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf.

  • Export of textiles, dates, grain, and luxury goods.

  • Use of silver-based economy.

  • Skilled industries: metalwork, ceramics, glass, woodworking.

Culture

  • Architectural marvels:

    • Ishtar Gate

    • Processional Way

    • Hanging Gardens (legendary)

    • Grand palaces and ziggurats

  • Flourishing arts: glazed bricks, wall reliefs.

  • Libraries and schools produced advanced science.