Map of the Babylonian Empire (550 B.C.)

The Babylonians were great conquerors, as the Assyrians were. They were also great traders as revealed through archaeology, and thousands of cuneiform tablets have been found telling of their complex trade networks. They traded with Lebanon, Egypt and Greece. In order to protect their trade routes, they marched their armies west with the mighty king Nebuchadnezzar leading them. He captured major cities like the Phoenician city of Tyre and it was he who conquered Jerusalem. He also drove out the Egyptians from Syria and Phoenicia which enabled him to secure a rich trade gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. Babylon also collected a bitter tribute from the conquered cities and many rebellions were put down.