12. The Neo-Babylonian Empire
The Neo-Babylonian Empire presided over a golden age of art, science, and monumental architecture, with Babylon as its glittering capital. Yet in 539 BCE, this vibrant civilization fell almost overnight when Cyrus the Great’s Persian army conquered the city with little resistance. The swift downfall ended Babylon’s cultural renaissance and shifted the balance of power in the ancient world. Learn more at History.com.
