AssyriaProclaimed as one of the strongest

empires to ever have existed, Assyria used all their strength in

order to gain control of all of Mesopotamia.

The Key to Assyria’s Success in the Fertile Crescent

By Jack Gregory

Assyrian Military

• Much of Assyria’s rise and fall in the ancient world was due to their superior

militaristic point of view.

• The Assyrians used this to their advantage and dominated most of the Fertile Crescent.

The Rise of Assyria

• As mentioned earlier, much of Assyria’s rise was due to the availability of natural resources. Their armor allowed them to easily overpower the entire Fertile Crescent along with much of the surrounding areas. The Assyrians soon reached the top of the Western hierarchy, dominating most of the land.

Assyrian Tactics in Battle

Assyrians used many tactics to help achieve supreme domination.

The Assyrians’ use of ladders was an interesting tactic. They would push the ladders up against the enemy’s walls while Assyrian archers fired distractions. Before the enemy could react, Assyrian soldiers would climb up and slaughter as many as possible.

Another well known tactic among the Assyrians involved tunnel digging. They would send their soldiers underground to dig a tunnel beneath the enemy’s walls. Then after the hole was dug, the wall would fall into the hole and collapse.

Assyrian Tactics (continued)

Unlike their predecessors, the Persians, the Assyrians were incredibly disrespectful, intolerant, and vicious when invading a city.

They would often kill every single person in the invasions and those who were spared were kept as slaves and had to lead a very saddening life.

Natural Resources Impact Assyria’s Fighting

Assyria’s position in the Fertile Crescent was also key to their domination. Because they had great natural resources, they had access to great weaponry and armor.

The Fall of Assyria

• As Assyria rose, the Persian Empire began to dominate as well, causing a threat.

Assyria did it’s best to repel the Persian invaders, but eventually fell.

Bibliography

http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/sub.asp?key=15&subkey=6028

• http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/gabrmetz/gabr0009.htm

• Text Book

Assyrian RulersAssyrian Rulers

Assyria was a military based empire because Assyria was a military based empire because of its rulers. Assyrian kings built an empire of its rulers. Assyrian kings built an empire that stretched from east and north of the that stretched from east and north of the Tigris River all the way to central Egypt. Tigris River all the way to central Egypt. These rulers were mighty and powerful, These rulers were mighty and powerful,

helping Assyria to rise and fall.helping Assyria to rise and fall.

King SennacheribKing SennacheribRuled from 705-681 B.C.Ruled from 705-681 B.C.

King Sennacherib was a great king of Assyria. He wasn’t modest however, and bragged about sacking 89 cities and 20 villages, burned Babylon, and ordered most of its inhabitants killed.

Sennacherib was the first Assyrian ruler who used a navy. He used them in 694 B.C. to pursue Chaldean rebels and defeated them.

He had various problems with Babylon during his rule and claimed to have destroyed the city. He flooded Babylon despite its traditional status as a holy city.

Sennacherib was able to retain the lands conquered by his father and even threatened the Egyptian frontier.

King Sennacherib moved his capital from Dur Sharrukin to Nineveh. It was established along the Tigris River.

King AshurbanipalKing AshurbanipalRuled from 668-627 B.C.Ruled from 668-627 B.C.

King Ashurbanipal prided himself on his ability to read in several different languages. He was the only Assyrian king that could actually read and write. Ashurbanipal also collected more than 25,000 clay tablets from throughout the Fertile Crescent. He established the first systematically organized library in his palace at Nineveh.

Collections of reliefs and carvings depicted Ashurbanipal as hunting and killing lions. Lion hunt was a royal sport in Assyria.

Ashurbanipal was known by enemy nations for his cruelty action to defeated kings.

King Ashurbanipal died in 627 B.C. The empire fell shortly and was followed by a revolt in the court.

King NebuchadnezzarKing NebuchadnezzarRuled from 605-562 B.C.Ruled from 605-562 B.C.

After the Chaldeans defeated the Assyrians, they made Babylon their capital. King Nebuchadnezzar took over the Babylonian Empire and restored it. He united Babylon and Assyria, an extraordinary accomplishment.

His palace was listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the world by the Greek visitors. This was the “hanging gardens of Babylon”. Nebuchadnezzar erected many famous buildings even after the empire was overthrown by Cyrus of Persia. He improved canals and restored many religious monuments.

Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt, Tyre, Edom, and Judah.

Shortly after his death in 562 B.C., the empire fell and the Persians take over the empire. Babylonian bricks were inscribed, “I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon”.

Works CitedWorks Cited"Ashurbanipal." "Ashurbanipal." Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaWikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 13 Nov 2008, 19:59 UTC. 20 . 13 Nov 2008, 19:59 UTC. 20

Nov 2008 <Nov 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashurbanipal&oldid=251617048http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashurbanipal&oldid=251617048>>..

"Sennacherib." "Sennacherib." Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaWikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 16 Nov 2008. 19 Nov 2008 <. 16 Nov 2008. 19 Nov 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sennacherib&oldid=252213754http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sennacherib&oldid=252213754>.>.

Trade in AssyriaAssyria used their militaristic power to

gain control of some of the most resourceful trading routes in all of the

area.

Amelia Abdellatif

How and Why Assyria Gained Control of the Land

• Assyria started to gain control by expanding their empire through military brutality towards neighboring lands.

• Once they gained control of resourceful land, Assyrians seized all trade routes.

• The Assyrians continued their rule by reinforcing all rules.

• Assyria needed to control trade because in order for them to fully succeed as an empire, all kinds of resources needed to be available to them.

Assyrian Domination

• After their fall, Assyria was and still is considered one of the most skilled empires to have ever existed.

• Being able to have such organizational skills was the key to their success. With their detailed plans and conquests, Assyrians were able to seize what they wanted, when they wanted.

• Assyrians swiftly dominated almost all of Mesopotamia, creating one of the greatest empires EVER. • Assyria consisted of skilled andtactiful soldiers.

Fast Facts• Although Assyrians were able to fend for themselves,

most of the higher classmen owned slaves, purchased form neighboring lands.

• Trade centers were located in the centers of the

villages, everyone had to gather in order to trade.

• Assyria traded with the only resources they had in surplus, metal and timber.

• Assyrians were attributed for their tactful skills in seizing trade routes and containing all other civilians.

• Conquest and homicide (if necessary) as a means of securing all trade routes.

Bibliography

Informationhttp://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/egypt/othercultures/assyrians.htmlhttp://www.livius.org/as-at/assyria/assyria.htmlhttp://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=201687http://hamblinwj.byu.edu/class/238ANE/ANE34Assyria1/Assyria.pdfhttp://www.historyforkids.org/learn/westasia/history/assyrians.htmWorld History Textbook

Photographshttp://www.truthnet.org/Daniel/Introduction/mesop1.jpg

http://trade-routes-resources.blogspot.com/2005/11/old-assyrian-trade-routes-1880-1740-bc.html

The Assyrian empire was advanced to many different The Assyrian empire was advanced to many different determinants mainly because of cultural diffusion. determinants mainly because of cultural diffusion. Assyria was known as a “melting pot” of diversity, Assyria was known as a “melting pot” of diversity, which consists of many factors, including culture, which consists of many factors, including culture,

religion, and languages, which is relevant to writing. religion, and languages, which is relevant to writing. The empire resembled others when it came to religion The empire resembled others when it came to religion

and culture. They practiced two religions and were and culture. They practiced two religions and were polytheistic. Assyrians also shared some characteristics polytheistic. Assyrians also shared some characteristics

of their culture with other civilizations, such as of their culture with other civilizations, such as languages and beliefs.languages and beliefs.

• Assyria was known for its diversity of cultures, religions, and Assyria was known for its diversity of cultures, religions, and languages because of the large population of middle easterners, languages because of the large population of middle easterners, Mesopotamians, and Armenians.Mesopotamians, and Armenians.

• Their culture resembled many different empires and Their culture resembled many different empires and civilizations because of cultural diffusion. Assyria had been civilizations because of cultural diffusion. Assyria had been conquered many times and has adopted parts of their culture that conquered many times and has adopted parts of their culture that way.way.

• Hammurabi was a reason for cultural diffusion because he Hammurabi was a reason for cultural diffusion because he crushed Assyria’s attempt at being independent, which led to crushed Assyria’s attempt at being independent, which led to more conquerings by other empires.more conquerings by other empires.

• Assyria first took their common language from Sumeria but Assyria first took their common language from Sumeria but changed it later on into a form of arts and language that was changed it later on into a form of arts and language that was extremely similar to those of the Babylonian empire.extremely similar to those of the Babylonian empire.

• The Assyrians practiced two religions which were Ashurism and The Assyrians practiced two religions which were Ashurism and Christianity.Christianity.

• Ashurism was the first religion of the Assyrians.Ashurism was the first religion of the Assyrians.• The religion, Ashurism, and later the whole empire of Assyria, The religion, Ashurism, and later the whole empire of Assyria,

was named after the national god, Ashur.was named after the national god, Ashur.• The city, Nineveh, was named after Nina, the Ishtar of Assyria.The city, Nineveh, was named after Nina, the Ishtar of Assyria.• The first Assyrian church was founded in A.D. 33 by Thomas, The first Assyrian church was founded in A.D. 33 by Thomas,

Bartholomew, and Thaddeus.Bartholomew, and Thaddeus.• Ashurism was practiced until A.D 256Ashurism was practiced until A.D 256• Nature was worshiped and it was believed that every nature object Nature was worshiped and it was believed that every nature object

was possessed by a spiritwas possessed by a spirit• The Assyrians were polytheistic, therefore, they worshiped many The Assyrians were polytheistic, therefore, they worshiped many

gods such as the following: Anu, god of the heavens; Bel, god of gods such as the following: Anu, god of the heavens; Bel, god of region inhabited by man, beasts, and birds; Ea, god of the waters; region inhabited by man, beasts, and birds; Ea, god of the waters; Sin, the moon-god; Shamash, the sun-god; and Ramman, god of Sin, the moon-god; Shamash, the sun-god; and Ramman, god of the storms, etc.the storms, etc.

• The Assyrians had a form of writing called cuneiform, which the The Assyrians had a form of writing called cuneiform, which the Babylonians also used.Babylonians also used.

• Cuneiform was inscribed with a reed stylus on clay tablets and Cuneiform was inscribed with a reed stylus on clay tablets and they were wedge-shaped symbols.they were wedge-shaped symbols.

• During their history, Assyrians have spoken two languages: During their history, Assyrians have spoken two languages: ancient Assyrian (Akkadian), and Modern Assyrian (neo-syriac). ancient Assyrian (Akkadian), and Modern Assyrian (neo-syriac).

• Akkadian was also known as the Babylonian-Assyrian languageAkkadian was also known as the Babylonian-Assyrian language

• Akkadian was written with the cuneiform writing system on Akkadian was written with the cuneiform writing system on clay tablets and clay tablets and

• A new way of writing was developed by 750 B.C, in which A new way of writing was developed by 750 B.C, in which people wrote on parchment, leather, or papyrus. people wrote on parchment, leather, or papyrus.

                                                                           

 

                   

                   

             

                  

                      

B. Siren, Christopher. B. Siren, Christopher. The Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ version 1.9htmlThe Assyro-Babylonian Mythology FAQ version 1.9html. . 1994. 25 Nov. 2008 <http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/assrbabyl/-faq.html>1994. 25 Nov. 2008 <http://home.comcast.net/~chris.s/assrbabyl/-faq.html>

BetBasoo, Peter. BetBasoo, Peter. Brief History of Assyrians.Brief History of Assyrians. 25 Nov. 2008 25 Nov. 2008 <http://www.aina.org/aol/peter/brief.htm#Religion><http://www.aina.org/aol/peter/brief.htm#Religion>

Hooker, Richard. Hooker, Richard. The Assyrians 1170 – 612 B.C. The Assyrian Period.The Assyrians 1170 – 612 B.C. The Assyrian Period. 25 Nov. 25 Nov. 2008 <http://wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/ASSYRIA.HTM>2008 <http://wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/ASSYRIA.HTM>

National God of AssyriaNational God of Assyria. 25 Nov. 2008 <http://images.google.com/images?. 25 Nov. 2008 <http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=national+god+of+Assyria>gbv=2&hl=en&q=national+god+of+Assyria>

Quartz Hill School of Theology. Quartz Hill School of Theology. AssyriaAssyria. 25 Nov. 2008 . 25 Nov. 2008 http://www.theology.edu/lec19.htmhttp://www.theology.edu/lec19.htm