Neo-Babylonian Empire

Neo-Babylonian Empire was an empire in Mesopotamia (Middle East) that lasted from 626 to 539 BCE, about 87 years. Its people spoke Semitic languages (Akkadian, Amorite, Aramaic, Hebrew, Phoenician, Ge'ez, Amharic, Tigrinya).

Nebuchadnezzar II rebuilt Babylon with the Ishtar Gate, destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the Judeans. Cyrus the Great took Babylon without a fight in 539 BCE.

See Neo-Babylonian Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

626 to 539 BCE

Duration

87 years

Type

Empire

Region

Mesopotamia, Middle East

Language family

Semitic

Capital

Babylon

Came from

• Babylonia (Isin II and later dynasties) c. 1155 to 626 BCE
• Chaldeans c. 900 to 539 BCE
• Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE

Became

• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 612 BCE Fall of Nineveh
• 587 BCE Destruction of Jerusalem
• 539 BCE Cyrus takes Babylon

Neighbours in Middle East

• Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE
• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE
• Kingdom of Saba c. 1000 BCE to 275 CE
• Greek cities of Asia Minor c. 1050 to 129 BCE
• Phoenician city-states c. 1200 to 332 BCE
• Kingdom of Judah c. 930 to 587 BCE
• Urartu c. 860 to 590 BCE
• Lydia c. 680 to 546 BCE
• Median kingdom c. 678 to 550 BCE
• Dilmun c. 2800 to 544 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe

Questions