CHAPTER VI. Beginnings of Assyrian Empire; Conquest of Asshurnatsirpal 237 CHAPTER VII. Assyria a Powerful Empire; Hebrew Account of the War with Assyria 245 CHAPTER VIII. Last Years of Assyrian Dominance 256 CHAPTER IX. Chaldean Empire in Babylonia 264 CHAPTER X. Social Life in Mesopotamia. The Babylonian and Assyrian Compared; Their Houses and Family Life 270 CHAPTER XI. Morality of the Ancient Babylonians 276 CHAPTER XII. Literature and Learning; Deluge Story 283 CHAPTER XIII. Clothing Worn by Assyrians and Babylonians; Their Food 293 CHAPTER XIV. Architecture and Decoration 300 CHAPTER XV. Religious Customs 307 CHAPTER XVI. The Laboring Classes; Professions 317 CHAPTER XVII. The Medes 328 CHAPTER XVIII. Condition of Persia Before the Age of Cyrus; Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire 332 CHAPTER XIX. War with Greece 340 CHAPTER XX. Manners and Customs of the Persians; Their Religion 346 CHAPTER XXI. Contributions of Babylonia, Assyria and Persia to Modern Civilization 357 _Assyrian Literature._ Chaldean Account of the Deluge 361 Descent of Ishtar to Hades 367 Gyges and Assurbanipal 371_a_ Purity 371_c_ Zoroaster's Prayer 371_d_ THE HEBREWS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS. CHAPTER I. Syria 372 CHAPTER II. The Land of Phoenicia; Reign of Hiram; Invasion of Asshurbanipal 378 CHAPTER III. Phoenician Colonies and Commerce 390 CHAPTER IV. Occupations and Industries; Literature and Learning; Religion 399 CHAPTER V. Physical Geography of Palestine; Climate and Productivity 408 CHAPTER VI. Effects of Geographical Conditions upon the Hebrews 418 CHAPTER VII. Sources of Hebrew History 426 CHAPTER VIII. Condition of the Hebrews Prior to Their Occupation of Canaan 434 CHAPTER IX. Era of the Judges 441 CHAPTER X. Morality of the Early Hebrews 448