Did Persia or the Babylonian Empire come after Assyria?

 The historical sequence of the Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Empire, and Persian Empire is as follows:

1. **Assyrian Empire:** The Assyrian Empire was one of the earliest major empires in the ancient Near East. It reached its height during the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, with its capital in the city of Nineveh. The Assyrians were known for their military prowess and conquests, and they controlled a vast empire that included parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Turkey.

2. **Babylonian Empire (Neo-Babylonian Empire):** The Neo-Babylonian Empire succeeded the Assyrian Empire. The most famous ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire was King Nebuchadnezzar II. The empire reached its peak in the 6th century BCE and is particularly known for its architectural achievements, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. In 539 BCE, the Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, marking the end of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

3. **Persian Empire (Achaemenid Empire):** Following the conquest of Babylon, Cyrus the Great established the Achaemenid Empire, commonly known as the Persian Empire. The Achaemenid Empire became one of the largest empires in ancient history, stretching from Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) to the Indus Valley. Under rulers like Darius the Great and Xerxes, the Persian Empire reached its zenith during the 5th century BCE.

So, in chronological order, it goes Assyrian Empire, Neo-Babylonian Empire, and then the Persian Empire. Each of these empires played a significant role in shaping the history of the ancient Near East.