Chapter 5

_THE FALL OF NINEVEH AND THE RISE OF THE CHALDÆAN AND MEDIAN EMPIRES--THE XXVIth EGYPTIAN DYNASTY: CYAXARES, ALYATTES, AND NEBUCHADREZZAR._

_The legendary history of the kings of Media and the first contact of the Medes with the Assyrians: the alleged Iranian migrations of the Avesta--Media-proper, its fauna and flora; Phraortes and the beginning of the Median empire--Persia proper and the Persians; conquest of Persia by the Medes--The last monuments of Assur-bani-pal: the library of Kouyunjik--Phraortes defeated and slain by the Assyrians._

_Cyaxares and his first attach on Nineveh--The Assyrian triangle and the defence of Nineveh: Assur-bani-pal summons the Scythians to his aid--The Scythian invasion--Judah under Manasseh and Amon: development in the conceptions of the prophets--The Scythians in Syria and on the borders of Egypt: they are defeated and driven back by Cyaxares--The last kings of Nineveh and Naliopolassar--Taking and, destruction of Nineveh: division of the Assyrian empire between the Chaldæans and the Medes (608 B.C.)._

_The XXVIth Egyptian dynasty--Psammetichus I. and the Ionian and Carian mercenaries; final retreat of the Ethiopians and the annexation of the Theban principality; the end of Egypt as a great power--First Greek settlements in the Delta; flight of the Mashauasha and the reorganisation of the army--Resumption of important works and the renaissance of art in Egypt--The occupation of Ashdod, and the Syrian policy of Psammetichus I._

_Josiah, King of Judah: the discovery and public reading of the Book of the Covenant; the religious reform--Necho II. invades Syria: Josiah slain at Megiddo, the battle of Carchemish--Nebuchadrezzar II.: his policy with regard to Media--The conquests of Cyaxares and the struggles of the Mermnadæ against the Greek colonies--The war between Alyattes and Cyaxares: the battle of the Halys and the peace of 585 B.C.--Necho reorganises his army and his fleet: the circumnavigation of Africa--Jeremiah and the Egyptian party in Jerusalem: the revolt of Jehoiakim and the captivity of Jehoiachin._

_Psammetichus I. and Zedekiah--Apries and the revolt of Tyre and of Judah: the siege and destruction of Jerusalem--The last convulsions of Judah and the submission of Tyre; the successes of Aprics in Phoenicia--The Greeks in Libya and the founding of Cyrene: the defeat of Irasa and the fall of Apries--Amasis and the campaign of Nebuchadrezzar against Egypt--Relations between Nebuchadrezzar and Astyages--The fortifications of Babylon and the rebuilding of the Great Ziggurât--The successors of Nebuchadrezzar: Nabonidus._