Neo-Babylonian Empire | Overview, Map & Achievements

The beginnings of what historians now call the Neo-Babylonian era began a little over a decade before the fall of Assyria. King Nabopolassar, considered the first Neo-Babylonian king, came to the throne in 625 BCE and reigned until 605 BCE. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II, followed him and reigned from 604-562 BCE. Many building projects took place under the rule of these two kings. Across Babylonia, temples and ziggurats were repaired and restored. From its place between the Tigris and Euphrates, the city of Babylon projected its power from the Levant in the west all the way to the Persian Gulf in the east.

The Origins of the Neo-Babylonian Empire

As mentioned above, King Nabopolassar is considered the first Neo-Babylonian king. He came to the throne in 625 BCE and participated in the uprisings against the Assyrians. Using a series of alliances as well as through his battles against Assyria, he carved out a Neo-Babylonian domain. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II, continued his work.

The accomplishments of the Neo-Babylonian Empire were considerable and included architectural, religious, and social achievements. They have been explained in further detail in the sections below.

The Walls of Babylon

The walls of Babylon were legendary, especially after the building projects of Nebuchadnezzar II. They were so impressive that many ancient historians thought that they should be included on the list of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. The most notable section of these walls was the Ishtar Gate, a notable achievement in its own right. Constructed in 575 BCE, it served as the main entrance to the city. It was dedicated to the fertility goddess Ishtar and portrayed several animals including lions, bulls, and dragons. It was also built with bricks which were each put through a painstaking glazing process that gave them their distinctive blue color. There is perhaps no greater symbol that represents Babylon.

A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate, located in Berlin.

The Great Ziggurat

The ziggurat that was in Babylon, or the Etemenanki, was said to have been the inspiration for the Tower of Babel. It was here that the patron god of Babylon, Marduk, was said to have lived with his wife Sarpanitum. Along with this, the Babylonians believed other gods and their families lived in the ziggurat as well. It is also known that there were several bed chambers within the structure. It served as a religious center for the city and it is likely that astronomers made their calculations from atop the ziggurat. It was first mentioned by the Assyrian king Sennacherib, who sacked Babylon in 689 BCE. It is highly likely that the ziggurat was even ancient at this time, though the exact date of its construction is a mystery.

Reconstruction of the ziggurat in Babylon.

The Persians held Babylon in high esteem, so much so that Cyrus made it the administrative capital of his empire. Babylonian math and astronomy were well known in the ancient world and it continued in its role as a center of learning and culture. It is said that the Greek philosopher Pythagoras developed his mathematical theorem based on a Babylonian model. When Alexander the Great took the city from the Persians in 331 BCE, he too made it his capital. In its heyday, Babylon was one of the largest, most advanced, and most populated cities in the entire world. By the second century BCE, it was largely abandoned and when the Arabs took control of the region in the 7th century CE, anything that was left of the city was gone and hidden beneath the sands.

Babylon Map: Today

The ruins of Babylon are located around 50 miles southwest of Baghdad, in modern-day Iraq. Archaeological digs, which began in the 19th century, unearthed several sites of interest. Nebuchadnezzar II's palace, the Ishtar Gate, and the remains of the ziggurat are all notable. The 2003 war in Iraq had a negative impact on the site: military encampments in the ruins caused damage. As of 2009, the ruins of Babylon are being preserved thanks to the efforts of the World Monuments Fund as well as Iraq's State Board of Antiquities and Heritage. Below is a map of Babylon's location today:

A map showcasing Babylon

The era of Neo Babylonian Empire, lasting from 626-539 BCE, left an undeniable impact on human civilization. Founded by King Nabopolassar after his uprising against the Assyrians, it took effective control of Mesopotamia. His son and successor, Nebuchadnezzar II, expanded and improved the empire until it reached its greatest extent as well as sacked Jerusalem in 587 BCE. Eventually, Babylon lost its autonomy to the Persians after being conquered by Cyrus the Great. Its legacy is prominent today, especially in western society and its architectural achievements, religious developments as well as its social developments left a lasting impact.