Ancient History Resources for Homeschool and Personal Study. This weeks topics: The Babylonian, Assyrian and Semitic peoples in conflict. Each civilization has been studied but as these civilizations vie for territorial control, epic battles ensue.

Ancient History is studied through the collection of archeological evidence, written records and oral stories or myths. Just because evidence shows a particular belief or custom was common at a particular time does not mean that everyone in that civilization shared that belief. When you study the topics for this week, you can either go deep on one topic for the week and skip the others or you can do a new topic each day. This outline is just a suggested pace, you can go slower or faster as needed. This outline is intended to provide you with a place to start. You will still need to do your own research.

Replica of the Ishtar Gate, Germany

Homeschool Topics for Week 14

Assyrian Conflict

Babylonian Conflict

Semitic Conflict

Discussion Questions

Assyrian Conflict

Nineveh was the great city of the Assyrians. It was here that the Hanging Gardens "of Babylon" were built by Sennacherib. Sennacherib's army defeated Egyptian armies but was unsuccessful in the siege of Jerusalem around 700 BC. Nineveh was burned in 612 BC. You can read more about the Gardens here in an article written by Stephanie Dalley, the archeologist referenced in the YouTube clip below.

The great library of Nineveh, found in the ruins of Nineveh, has been catalogued here and is searchable here

Babylonian Conflict

Nebuchadnezzar II was the Babylonian empire's greatest king. The story on Wikipedia of his coming to power in 605 BC is very interesting if slightly speculative. His early reign led some to call him a "paper tiger" because he was unable to control the distant vassal state of Egypt. However, later in his reign he did take Jerusalem and the Phoenician city of Tyre. He was a great builder and is known for the Ishtar gate and a canal linking the Tigris with the Euphrates river.

Semitic Conflict

The city of Jerusalem was attacked by both Assyria and Babylon. In the first, it was miraculously saved by angels. In the second, the population was forcibly removed except for a mountain community of Samaritans. King Solomon built a temple which was sacked by Nebuchadnezzar's army. King Zedekiah refused to pay tribute to Nebuchadnezzar believing that he was a weak ruler as described above.

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