here of influence in that region had
been invaded. Marduk-nadin-akhe, the grandson of Nebuchadrezzar I,
"arrayed his chariots" against Tiglath-pileser, and in the first
conflict achieved some success, but subsequently he was defeated in
the land of Akkad. The Assyrian army afterwards captured several
cities, including Babylon and Sippar.

Thus once again the Assyrian Empire came into being as the predominant
world Power, extending from the land of the Hittites into the heart of
Babylonia. Its cities were enriched by the immense quantities of booty
captured by its warrior king, while the coffers of state were glutted
with the tribute of subject States. Fortifications were renewed,
temples were built, and great gifts were lavished on the priesthood.
Artists and artisans were kept fully employed restoring the faded
splendours of the Old Empire, and everywhere thousands of slaves
laboured to make the neglected land prosperous as of old. Canals were
repaired and reopened; the earthworks and quay wall of Ashur were
strengthened, and its great wall was entirely rebuilt, faced with a
rampart of earth, and protected once again by a deep moat. The royal
palace was enlarged and redecorated.

Meanwhile Babylonia was wasted by civil war and invasions. It was
entered more than once by the Aramaeans, who pillaged several cities
in the north and the south. Then the throne was seized by
Adad-aplu-iddina, the grandson of "a nobody", who reigned for about
ten years. He was given recognition, however, by the Assyrian king,
Ashur-bel-kala, son of Tiglath-pileser I, who married his daughter,
and apparently restored to him Sippar and Babylon after receiving a
handsome dowry. Ashur-bel-kala died without issue, and was succeeded
by his brother, Shamshi-Adad.

An obscure period followed. In Babylonia there were two weak dynasties
in less than half a century, and thereafter an Elamite Dynasty which
lasted about six years. An Eighth Dynasty ensued, and lasted between
fifty and sixty years. The records of its early kings are exceedingly
meagre and their order uncertain. During the reign of Nabu-mukin-apli,
who was perhaps the fourth monarch, the Aramaeans constantly raided
the land and hovered about Babylon. The names of two or three kings
who succeeded Nabu-mukin-apli are unknown.

A century and a half after Tiglath-pileser I conquered the north
Syrian possessions of the Hittites, the Old Assyrian Empire reached
the close of its second and la