The Neo-Babylonian Empire was a period of Mesopotamian history which began in 626 BC and ended in 539 BC. During the preceding three centuries, Babylonia had been ruled by their fellow Akkadian speakers and northern neighbours, Assyria.
In order for a satellite to successfully orbit the Earth, it must travel a horizontal distance of 8000 meters before falling a vertical distance of 5 meters. A horizontally launched projectile falls a vertical distance of 5 meters in its first second of motion.
So in the same 6 minutes it would take to free fall 640 km (400 miles), the ISS moves 8000 km (5000 miles) horizontally. Those two motions occur simultaneously, and the result is a smooth circular orbit. At higher altitudes gravity is weaker, and less horizontal speed is required to maintain orbit.