Key Groups
Chaldeans: The Chaldeans were a Semitic people who inhabited southern Mesopotamia around the 9th century until the 6th century, they were known as opponents against the Assyrian Empire and this can be seen by their multiple attempts at rebellion. It has been suggested that the Kings Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar were part of the Chaldean tribe, however given the lack of sources on this matter it is hard to determine the truth. However the Chaldeans did support Nabopolassar and Nebuchadnezzar in their attempts to unify Babylonia and were important in the functioning of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, these factors have contributed to the Neo-Babylonian Empire being identified as the Chaldean Empire and its rulers as the Chaldean Kings.
Babylonians: The Babylonians were the ancient inhabitants of the city of Babylon who had occupied the region for many centuries and are believed to be decadents of the original people of Mesopotamia. Not to be confused with the Chaldeans of southern Mesopotamia they followed the traditions and customs of their ancestors. They eventually rebelled against the Assyrians as well because of the perceived slights against the Babylonian Gods and also because of the desire for a free Babylon.
Assyrians: The Assyrians were a Eastern Semitic people who inhabited northern Mesopotamia who controlled a large empire by the start of the 8th century BCE. They were skilled in warfare but lacked natural resources in their region and as such were dependent on trade routes and other regions to support their economy and supply their people. This was one of the reasons they conquered Babylon as it lay within the fertile crescent and important Trade routes, this made them popular among the Babylonians and Chaldeans who saw them as oppressors and eventually would lead to their downfall.
Medes: The Medes where an ancient Iranian people who lived in north western Iran since the 1st millennium BCE who were also rivals to the Assyrian Empire. They formed an alliance with Nabopolassar and the Babylonians against the Neo-Assyrian empire and together they were able to destroy the Assyrians and take the remnants of their empire. They formed their own empire in Iran and northern Mesopotamia and had good relations with the Neo-Babylonian Empire until they themselves where conquered by the Persian king Cyrus.
Persians: The Persians where an ancient Iranian people who conquered the Medes and Babylonians during the 6th century BCE, they would go on to form their own empire which would last in various forms until the region would be conquered by the Muslim conquest in the 7th century CE. Their descendants are the modern people of Iran.
Babylonians: The Babylonians were the ancient inhabitants of the city of Babylon who had occupied the region for many centuries and are believed to be decadents of the original people of Mesopotamia. Not to be confused with the Chaldeans of southern Mesopotamia they followed the traditions and customs of their ancestors. They eventually rebelled against the Assyrians as well because of the perceived slights against the Babylonian Gods and also because of the desire for a free Babylon.
Assyrians: The Assyrians were a Eastern Semitic people who inhabited northern Mesopotamia who controlled a large empire by the start of the 8th century BCE. They were skilled in warfare but lacked natural resources in their region and as such were dependent on trade routes and other regions to support their economy and supply their people. This was one of the reasons they conquered Babylon as it lay within the fertile crescent and important Trade routes, this made them popular among the Babylonians and Chaldeans who saw them as oppressors and eventually would lead to their downfall.
Medes: The Medes where an ancient Iranian people who lived in north western Iran since the 1st millennium BCE who were also rivals to the Assyrian Empire. They formed an alliance with Nabopolassar and the Babylonians against the Neo-Assyrian empire and together they were able to destroy the Assyrians and take the remnants of their empire. They formed their own empire in Iran and northern Mesopotamia and had good relations with the Neo-Babylonian Empire until they themselves where conquered by the Persian king Cyrus.
Persians: The Persians where an ancient Iranian people who conquered the Medes and Babylonians during the 6th century BCE, they would go on to form their own empire which would last in various forms until the region would be conquered by the Muslim conquest in the 7th century CE. Their descendants are the modern people of Iran.