History of Ancient Lebanon - Babylonian Rule and The Persian Empire

Babylonian Rule and The Persian Empire

Main article: History of Lebanon under Babylonian rule

As the Babylonians finally defeated the Assyrians at Carchemish, much of Lebanon was already in their hands, since much of it was seized from the collapsing Assyrian kingdom. In that time two Babylonian kings succeeded the throne, Nabopolassar who focused on ending Assyrian influence in the region, and his son Nebuchadnezzar II whose reign witnessed several regional rebellions, especially in Jerusalem. Revolts in Phoenician cities became more frequent during that period (685-636 BC, Tyre rebelled again and for thirteen years resisted a siege by the troops of Nebuchadnezzar 587-574 BC. After this long siege, the city capitulated; its king was dethroned, and its citizens were enslaved.

Main article: History of Lebanon under Persian rule

The Achaemenids ended Babylonian rule when Cyrus, founder of the Persian Empire, captured Babylon in 539-538 BC and Phoenicia and its neighbors passed into Persian hands. Cambyses 529-522 BC, Cyrus's son and successor, continued his father's policy of conquest and in 529 BC became suzerain of Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. The Phoenician navy supported Persia during the Greco-Persian War 490-449 BC. But when the Phoenicians were overburdened with heavy tributes imposed by the successors of Darius I 521-485 BC, revolts and rebellions resumed in the Lebanese coastal cities.