neo-babylonian empire (Chaldean Empire)
The Neo-Babylonian empire survived from 626 BC to 539 BC near the land that is now Hillah, Iraq. The name Neo-Babylonia means "new gate of the gods" because 'neo' means 'new' in Latin, and Babylon comes from "bav-il" in Akkadian which means 'Gate of the Gods'. Neo-Babylonia was not just Babylon, but a new and improved form of the old empire.
Nabopolassar, the king, took over Neo-Babylonia and he rebuilt it. All the while his army fought, under his command, against many other empires, especially the Assyrian Empire (which they finally defeated). Then his son, Nebuchadnezzar II, continued to rebuild it until it covered about 2,200 acres of land with beautiful architecture and gardens. He may have built the hanging gardens of Babylon to remind his wife of her homeland, Persia. Walls and moats surrounded the empire for protection, but nine gates allowed entrance and departure for people who lived in Neo-Babylonia. Each gate had detailed works of art that represented a god that the people of the empire believed in and respected. The most well-known or famous gate was the one that was dedicated to the goddess Ishtar. It was painted with a violet-blue color and gold lions, Ishtar's symbols, on the walls. Farmers had to live outside the wall to grow their crops but they were allowed inside through one of the nine gates when the city was under attack. Everyone wanted to be inside the Neo-Babylonian empire's walls when there was danger because of the extra protection, but there was not enough room for farms and farmers all the time. This rule was just like any other empire.
Nabopolassar, the king, took over Neo-Babylonia and he rebuilt it. All the while his army fought, under his command, against many other empires, especially the Assyrian Empire (which they finally defeated). Then his son, Nebuchadnezzar II, continued to rebuild it until it covered about 2,200 acres of land with beautiful architecture and gardens. He may have built the hanging gardens of Babylon to remind his wife of her homeland, Persia. Walls and moats surrounded the empire for protection, but nine gates allowed entrance and departure for people who lived in Neo-Babylonia. Each gate had detailed works of art that represented a god that the people of the empire believed in and respected. The most well-known or famous gate was the one that was dedicated to the goddess Ishtar. It was painted with a violet-blue color and gold lions, Ishtar's symbols, on the walls. Farmers had to live outside the wall to grow their crops but they were allowed inside through one of the nine gates when the city was under attack. Everyone wanted to be inside the Neo-Babylonian empire's walls when there was danger because of the extra protection, but there was not enough room for farms and farmers all the time. This rule was just like any other empire.
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