The Neo-Babylonian Renaissance Under Nebuchadnezzar
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, revived under Nabopolassar and brought to its peak by Nebuchadnezzar II, was a golden age of art, architecture, and military might. We’ve walked the ruins of Babylon near modern Hillah, where Nebuchadnezzar built the Ishtar Gate and the Hanging Gardens. This map traces the empire’s expansion from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean, including the conquest of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. For Bible readers, this is the empire of Daniel’s exile, where the prophet interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and witnessed God’s sovereignty over the nations. Travelers to Iraq can use this map to follow the paths of the Jewish exiles and the rise of Babylon as a center of ancient civilization.
