During the expansion of the large empires residing in the Mediterranean the region began to grow more prosperous. Before the expansion, trade was mainly done locally in each empire and religion would vary across the different empires. Due to the growth of empires trade became more international as empires began to conquer new lands and travel to new places. The Assyrian empire was one of the largest empires ever seen. Along with its immense size, came great prosperity through taxes and booty. Furthermore, the Assyrians were able to have a strong control in international commerce. Societies also changed over time as people began to stray from the belief that god reflected nature and instead began believing in the concept expressed in the “Mandate of Heaven”, simply, that God chose the king. This belief led people to worship the king, which increased the support from his people. Thus, leading to the creation of larger armies. The basis of the Assyrian empire placed a heavy reliance on agriculture and emphasis on individuality increased.
The expansion of the Neo-Babylonian Empire had a large impact on the region. Expansion began with the successful invasion into Syria. Prosperity in the city of Babylonia increased due in large part to the kings: Nabopolassar and Necuchadnezzar. During this time the city also underwent an agricultural renaissance and became a one of the most thriving cities in the region. Furthermore, during this time festivals were resurrected, old Colts were revived, and temples rebuilt. The Babylonians also placed a much larger emphasis on the education and development of society. The expansion of these two regions in the Mediterranean led to increased prosperity in the region and made it a central area in the world.