See also: Nabuchodonosor

Nabuchodonosor II , sovereign of Babylon (v. 630 av. J. - C. - 562 av. J. - C.) owes its fame with the conquest of Jerusalem and the Royaume of Juda whose Bible is made echo.

The reign

Nabuchodonosor succeeds his/her father Nabopolassar, who gave again his independence with Babylon vis-a-vis the Assyrian , in 605 av. J. - C. It came, not very front, to beat the Egyptians with Karkemish.

As of the first year of its reign it subjected Jerusalem and establishes a Protectorat there. King de Juda, Joachim, not supporting the situation, plotted with the Egyptians. Nabuchodonosor reacts by subjecting again Jerusalem the March 16th 597 front J. - C., by off-setting the royal family and part of the population, and while installing on the throne Sedecias. But this last plotted in its turn against Nabuchondonosor which had to return third once to Jerusalem - in 586 front J.C. - to subject the city. The Temple of Solomon was destroyed and all the Jewish population was off-set, thus forming the first Diaspora.

It besieged 13 years the town of Tyr, and ends up subjecting it in -573.

Nabuchodonosor dies of disease in -562. His/her son Amêl-Marduk (Evil-Merodach) will occupy the throne only two years.

The capital

Nabuchodonosor undertakes immense work with Babylon: sanctuary of Marduk, Ziggourat, a great number of temples of the city, rebuilding of the enclosure with two parallel walls, carries Ishtar, etc the city forms a coarse rectangle of 1,5 km out of 2,4 km. Built originally on Eastern bank of the Euphrate, it is connected at its popular quarters on Western bank by a bridge. The interior organization (excavations of the district of Merkès) rests primarily on a squared level, which supposes a town-planning. Certain streets are enough broad to allow the passage of tanks and carriages. A large North-South artery, the processional way, on the ground covered with cooked flagstones jointed with the bitumen, passes by the door of Ishtar to serve the palate and the principal sanctuaries. The palate gets along in north between the processional way and an enormous bastion with the 25 m broad walls (the hanging gardens of the Sémiramis queen could be located at this place). Of 300 m out of approximately 150, composed of five North-South and juxtaposed lengthened units, with buildings on both sides of a large court, it is single by its structure and its organization (it is necessary, to reach the last unit, to cross the four first initially).

The temple of Marduk (Esagila, the house with high head), form the religious heart of the city in close relation with the ziggurat from which the street separates it which serves the bridge. Almost square (79 m out of 85,80), it follows the plan known as Babylonian, laid out around a large rectangular court. Famous the ziggourat (Etemenanki, the house of the base of the sky and the ground) is installed inside a vast rectangular court of 458 m out of 312 m, on a basis of 91 Mr. the bridge consists of piles in the form of long shuttles 21 m, broad 9 m, with intervals of 9 m, built out of bricks and stones sealed with lead, with cavities intended to receive the end of the beams, which support the apron.

Organization of the Empire

The large temples play an economic and administrative part important. That of Uruk provided us a full written documentation. Its hierarchical administration was found, seems it, in the other sanctuaries, in Babylon or Borsippa. The king has there his representatives whose action appears to be become more strict with the arrival of Nabonide to the capacity. These organizations seem to be supported by the first sovereigns; they indeed form a preexistent administrative structure which controls the economic production, therefore the incomes, of the territory which depend and reduce of it the administrative load which concerns directly the palate.

The essence of the economic life is founded on agriculture. The grounds are affected according to their qualities and the possibilities of irrigation to the breeding, the palm plantations and cereals. They are conceded against royalty with those which exploit them. Certain owners are owners, but they remain subjected to the temple for their royalties.

An activity of the capitalist type founded on the trade of the money and the tangible properties develops in the cities. She knows a certain expansion with the appearance of the currency which starts to circulate.

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