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[[File:Chaldean_Nation_2015-07-20_10-18.jpg|thumbnail|Chaldean Nation]]
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The '''Chaldean Neo-Babylonian Empire''' was a period of [[Mesopotamia]]n history which began in 626 BC and ended in 539 BC.<ref>Talley Ornan, ''The Triumph of the Symbol: Pictorial Representation of Deities in Mesopotamia and the Biblical Image Ban'' (Göttingen: Academic Press Fribourg, 2005), 4 n. 6</ref> During the preceding three centuries, [[Babylonia]] had been ruled by their fellow [[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] speakers and northern neighbours, [[Assyria]]. A year after the death of the last strong Chaldean ruler, [[Assurbanipal]], in 627 BC, the Chaldean empire spiralled into a series of brutal civil wars. Babylonia rebelled under [[Nabopolassar]], a Chaldean member of the [[Chaldea]]n tribes in south Babylonia. In alliance with the [[Medes]], [[Persian people|Persians]], [[Scythians]] and [[Cimmerians]], they sacked the city of [[Nineveh]] in 612 BC, and the seat of empire was transferred to [[Babylon]]ia for the first time since the death of [[Hammurabi]] in the mid 18th century BC. This period witnessed a general improvement in economic life and agricultural production, and a great flourishing of architectural projects, the arts and science.
The Chaldean Neo-Babylonian ruling period ended with the reign of [[Nabonidus]] in 539 BC. To the east, the Persians had been growing in strength, and eventually [[Cyrus the Great]] established his dominion over Babylon of the Chaldeans. Native Chaldean s of Mesopotamia continued preserving the Chaldean civilization until today.
===Historical Revival of Chaldean Traditions===
Ancient artworks from the heyday of Babylonia's imperial glory were treated with near-religious reverence and were painstakingly preserved. For example, when a statue of Chaldean [[Sargon of Akkad|Sargon the Great]] was found during construction work, a temple was built for it—and it was given offerings. The story is told of how Chaldean King [[Nebuchadnezzar]], in his efforts to restore the Temple at [[Sippar]], had to make repeated excavations until he found the foundation deposit of [[Naram-Sen of Akkad|Naram-Suen]], the discovery of which then allowed him to rebuild the temple properly. Neo-Babylonians Chaldeans also revived the ancient [[Akkadian Empire|Sargonid]] practice of appointing a royal daughter to serve as priestess of the [[moon-god]] [[Sin (mythology)|Sin]].
===Cultural and economic life===
We are much better informed about Mesopotamian culture and economic life under the Neo-Babylonians Chaldeans than we are about the structure and mechanics of imperial administration. It is clear that for southern Mesopotamia the Neo-Babylonian Chaldean period was a renaissance. Large tracts of land were opened to cultivation. Peace and imperial power made resources available to expand the irrigation systems and to build an extensive canal system. The Babylonian countryside was dominated by large estates, which were given to government officials as a form of pay. These estates were usually managed through local entrepreneurs, who took a cut of the profits. Rural folk were bound to these estates, providing both labor and rents to their landowners.
By 572 Nebuchadnezzar was in full control of all of Mesopotamia, Babylonia Chaldea, Phoenicia, Israel, Philistinia, northern Arabia, and parts of Asia Minor. Nebuchadnezzar fought the Pharaohs [[Psammetichus II]] and [[Apries]] throughout his reign, and in 568 BC during the reign of Pharaoh [[Amasis II|Amasis]], invaded Egypt itself.<ref>"Nebuchadnezzar." ''Encyclopedia of World Biography''. 2004. Encyclopedia.com.</ref>
===Amel-Marduk 562 BC – 560 BC===
