The New Babylonian Empire was founded by Nabopolassar, a military leader who became king of the city of Babylon. Babylon stood on the banks of the Euphrates River in what is now Iraq. The empire occupied a large part of what is now known as the Middle East.<NP> The empire's most famous ruler was Nabopolassar's son Nebuchadnezzar II. Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon became one of the the ancient world's most magnificent cities. Nebuchadnezzar probably built the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.<NP> During the time of the empire, Babylon was an agricultural and manufacturing center and the Middle East's largest commercial center. The New Babylonian Empire is sometimes called the Chaldean Empire.<NP> For more information, see the section <I>The New Babylonian Empire</I> in BABYLON.
