Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Timeline of Events in Ancient Babylonia

Timeline of Events in Ancient Babylonia [Sumer Timeline] Late 3rd Millennium B.C. Babylon exists as a city.Shamshi-Adad I (1813 - 1781 B.C.), an Amorite, has power in northern Mesopotamia, from the Euphrates River to the Zagros Mountains. Â   1st Half of 18th Century B.C. 1792 - 1750 B.C. Collapse of Shamshi-Adads kingdom after his death. Hammurabi incorporates all of southern Mesopotamia into the kingdom of Babylon. 1749 - 1712 B.C. Hammurabis son Samsuiluna rules. The course of the Euphrates River shifts for unclear reasons at this time. 1595 Hittite king Mursilis I sacks Babylon. Sealand Dynasty kings appear to rule Babylonia after the Hittite raid. Almost noting is known of Babylonia for 150 years after the raid. Kassite Period Mid-15th Century B.C. The non-Mesopotamian Kassites take power in Babylonia and re-establish Babylonia as the power in the southern Mesopotamian area. Kassite-controlled Babylonia lasts (with a short break) for about 3 centuries. It is a time of literature and canal building. Nippur is rebuilt. Early 14th Century B.C. Kurigalzu I builds Dur-Kurigalzu (Aqar Quf), near modern Baghdad probably to defend Babylonia from northern invaders. There are 4 major world powers, Egypt, Mitanni, Hittite, and Babylonia. Babylonian is the international language of diplomacy. Mid-14th Century Assyria emerges as a major power under Ashur-uballit I (1363 - 1328 B.C.). 1220s Assyrian king Tukulti-Ninurta I (1243 - 1207 B.C.) atttacks Babylonia and takes the throne in 1224. Kassites eventually depose him, but damage has been done to the irrigation system. Mid-12th Century Elamites and Assyrians attack Babylonia. An Elamite, Kutir-Nahhunte, captures the last Kassite king, Enlil-nadin-ahi (1157 - 1155 B.C.). 1125 - 1104 B.C. Nebuchadrezzar I rules Babylonia and retakes the statue of Marduk the Elamites had taken to Susa. 1114 - 1076 B.C. Assyrians under Tiglathpileser I sack Babylon. 11th - 9th Centuries Aramaean and Chaldean tribes migrate and settle in Babylonia. Mid-9th to End of the 7th Century Assyria increasingly dominates Babylonia.Assyrian king Sennacherib (704 - 681 B.C.) destroys Babylon. Sennacheribs son Esarhaddon (680 - 669 B.C.) rebuilds Babylon. His son Shamash-shuma-ukin (667 - 648 B.C.), takes the Babylonian throne.Nabopolassar (625 - 605 B.C.) gets rid of the Assyrians and then strikes against the Assyrians in a coalition with Medes in campaigns from 615 - 609. Neo-Babylonian Empire Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadrezzar II (604 - 562 B.C.) rule the western part of the Assyrian Empire. Nebuchadrezzar II conquers Jerusalem in 597 and destroys it in 586.Babylonians renovate Babylon to suit the capital city of an empire, including 3 square miles enclosed in city walls. When Nebuchadnezzar dies, his son, son-in-law, and grandson assume the throne in rapid succession. Assassins next give the throne to Nabonidus (555 - 539 B.C.).Cyrus II (559 - 530) of Persia takes Babylonia. Babylonia is no longer independent. Source: James A. Armstrong Mesopotamia The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Brian M. Fagan, ed., Oxford University Press 1996. Oxford University Press.

Monday, March 2, 2020

The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow

The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow What could you accomplish if you had a week or two to focus exclusively on your writing, with all your needs taken care of, no interruptions, no TV or chores or kids to distract you? Your days and nights to yourself, with the time and space to work at your own pace, in your own way? In the historic arts community of Eureka Springs, two adjacent houses, surrounded For breakfast and lunch you can fetch supplies or leftovers, fill your basket and take it back to your room or kitchen. All suites have mini fridges and coffee makers. But dinners are special: Monday to Friday, Colony kitchen goddess Jana prepares beautiful and satisfying gourmet dinners for writers to share while gathered around a big table. It’s a time to socialize, unwind, process your work, get and share ideas in a creative flow. To qualify, one doesn’t have to be a published writer, have a bestseller, be famous or have an agent. The only requirements are to step up, fill out a simple application form, have a plan for what you’ll work on while in residence, and submit a sample of your work. Introspection and modesty dog the writer’s journey. Self-deprecating assumptions can stifle all forward movement: â€Å"Oh, I’m not a real writer. I’m not famous enough yet, eligible, educated, etc.† Our literary heroes have used those same disclaimers. And yet, given the opportunity and grace of uninterrupted time in a perfect environment, with solitude, support and meals, many residents astound themselves with the level of productivity they achieve and the quality of the writing they produce. But no one can write all the time. When it’s time to take a break from the printed page, residents only have to step outside the door to find beautiful trails to wander, or streets lined with Victorian and Queen Anne houses to stroll. The entire city of Eureka Springs is on the National Historic Register, and residents are very careful to preserve the historic accuracy of their homes and public buildings. Downtown streets are lined with galleries and funky little shops filled with hand-crafted and unique items. The Eureka Springs Carnegie Public Library is worth a visit, and it’s only a half-mile stroll from the Colony. On weekends, when Jana is not preparing dinner, Eureka Springs offers more than 42 sit-down restaurants with all kinds of cuisines, from burgers to more elegant offerings. How much does this cost? The fee is $55 a night, including food, with a one-time Internet fee and a cleaning fee. That means you can get seven days and nights for $430. There is a one-week minimum stay and a three-month maximum. Check it out on the website, www.writerscolony.org, or visit the Facebook page to see what other writers say about it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/149738778602/?ref=br_tf The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow 515 Spring Street Eureka Springs, AR   72632 Ph:   479-253-7444 Email: director@writerscolony.org writerscolony.org/