Still, the religious rites continued to be practiced as of old in Babylonia and Assyria for a long time, and when the religion finally disappeared, under the subsequent conquests of the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs, it left its traces in the popular superstitions and in the ineradicable traditions that survived.

But so far as the _history_ of this religion is concerned, it comes to an end with the downfall of the second Babylonian empire.
* * * * * The period, then, to be covered by a treatment of the religion of the Babylonians and Assyrians extends over the long interval between about 4000 B.C.and the middle of the sixth century.

The development of this religion follows closely the course of civilization and of history in the territory under consideration.

The twofold division, accordingly, into Babylonia and Assyria, is the one that suggests itself also for the religion.

The beginning, as is evident from the historical sketch given, must be made with Babylonia.