Babylon, Middle East, Asia Minor- The Gardens of Babylon were a series of steps leading up to a plateau on an artificial mountain. The mountain was covered with an extravagant garden. The Gardens were irrigated with water piped to the top. It is said that the Gardens appeared suspended in …

605 - 562 BCE- Nebuchadnezzar II was the Chaldean ruler who established their independence from the Assyrians. Nebuchadnezzar sacked Palestine, sending the Hebrew people into exile, and destroying their religious centers, including their temple at Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar is noted for having constructed one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World …

The Levant, Eastern Mediterranean- The Chaldeans or Neo-Babylonians were a semitic speaking people with origins on the Arabian Peninsula. The Chaldeans and the Medes captured the Assyrian capital Nineveh in 612 BCE. This allowed them to establish a new monarchy. Nebuchadnezzar II finally defeated the Assyrians around 604 BCE, and …

669 - 626 BCE- Ashurbanipal was one of the most notable kings of Assyria. He was ruler when the Babylonians revolted against Assyrian rule. As Ashurbanipal focused on the Babylonian conflict, Egypt was able to free itself from Assyrian rule. Thus the Assyrian empire disintegrated just after the reign of Ashurbanipal …

The Levant Region- 750- 605 BCE -- Assyria was the first iron age empire. The Assyrians were able to seize power after the destruction of the Hittites. Assyrians were a semitic speaking people, with origins on the Arabian peninsula. The Assyrians were known to be very harsh rulers. They used iron …

Eastern Coast of the Mediterranean Sea, The Levant- Byblos was a populous Phoenician trading port. Byblos was a major center for Egyptian papyrus outside of Egypt. The Greek word 'biblos,' meaning book, is based on this city name.