The Last Imperialist In The Religio-Political Entanglement of Ancient Mesopotamia: Nebuchadnezzar II

The late 7th century BCE marked the beginning of a distinct era for the lands of Mesopotamia. The Neo-Assyrian Empire, which had expanded its dominion through transboundary campaigns triggered by imperialist policies and thus reached the zenith of its power, began to decline due to internal and external challenges. In this period of disintegration, Babylon emerged as the foremost power to capitalize on Assyria’s vulnerability. The policies pursued by Nabopolassar, who spearheaded the independence of Neo-Babylon, and later by his son Nebuchadnezzar II, who transformed the state into an empire, would bring significant developments in Mesopotamian history. Nebuchadnezzar II, the most prominent king of the Neo-Babylonian period, implemented an entirely expansionist agenda to expand his borders and consolidate his power, particularly in the region's strategic locations. Egypt's encouragement of smaller kingdoms, especially the Kingdom of Judah, to rebel against Babylon often forced Nebuchadnezzar II to suppress these uprisings. Ultimately, Nebuchadnezzar II's wrath against Egypt-aligned Judah resulted in a particularly harsh action. The conquest of Jerusalem and the subsequent deportation of large segments of the Judahite population to Babylon left enduring scars on Judahite cultural memory. In his polices, Nebuchadnezzar II consistently claimed the support of the god Marduk. The Marduk-centric military power became the most legitimate instrument of Nebuchadnezzar II's imperialist expansion. This article aims to reveal the effects of Nebuchadnezzar II's understanding of faith on state administration and the reflections of this situation, especially on the people of Judah and the region.