The MarieBooks The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 4

T he Seven Great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World, Vol 4: Babylon" by George Rawlinson is a historical account written in the late 19th century. This volume specifically delves into the ancient Babylonian Empire, exploring its history, geography, and culture. Rawlinson presents a detailed examination of the empire's extent, its geographical features, and the significant civilizations within its territorial bounds. At the start of the volume, the author outlines the geographical scope of the Babylonian Empire, situating it primarily in the fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He details the characteristics of Babylonia, including its topography, the abundance of agricultural products, and the climatic conditions that shaped its society. The opening emphasizes the empire's rapid rise to power following the fall of Assyria and sets the stage for subsequent discussions of its political and cultural landscapes, hinting at the intricate connections these elements had with the broader ancient world.B ehold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great; the tree grew andwas strong: and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth."-Dan. iy. 10, 11. The limits of Babylonia Proper, the tract in which the dominant power of the FourthMonarchy had its abode, being almost identical with those which have been already described under the head of Chaldaea, will not require in this place to be treated afresh, at any length. It needs only to remind the reader that Babylonia Proper is that alluvial tract towards the mouth of the two great rivers of Western Asia-the Tigris and the Euphrates-which intervenes between the Arabian Desert on the one side, and the more eastern of the two streams on the other. Across the Tigris the country is no longer Babylonia, but Cissia, or Susiana-a distinct region, known to the Jews as Elam-the habitat of a distinct people. Babylonia lies westward of the Tigris, and consists of two vast plains or flats, one situated between the two rivers, and thus forming the lower portion of the "Mesopotamia" of the Greeks and Romans-the other interposed between the Euphrates and Arabia, a long