Cyrus's Conquest of Babylon

Timeline

1. -539Mesopotamia · MesopotamiaCyrus advanced eastward from the Persian plateau, exploiting the prolonged absence of the Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus and internal religious and political contradictions, and with the support of generals such as Gobryas approached the walls of Babylon.
2. -539City of Babylon · BabylonThe Persian army entered Babylon; the garrison and priestly class opened the gates and surrendered without fierce resistance. Nabonidus was captured, the Neo-Babylonian dynasty ended, and Mesopotamia was incorporated into the Achaemenid Empire.
3. -539–-538Babylon · BabylonCyrus issued a cylinder-style edict of toleration, respecting the religious and autonomous traditions of conquered lands and allowing the Jews deported to Babylon to return and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, setting a model for the empire's pluralistic governance.