lecture 20 neo-assyrian empire (b)

HISTORY 26

Lecture Twenty:

The Neo-Assyrian Empire

(c. 883 - 612 BC)

HISTORY 26

Lecture Twenty:

The Neo-Assyrian Empire

(c. 883 - 612 BC)

Causes of the Dark Age(c. 1200 - 900 BC)

Causes of the Dark Age(c. 1200 - 900 BC)

• Invasions/Migrations• The Peoples of the Sea• The Aramaeans

• Social Revolution• Increasing disparity in wealth

between palace and countryside• The Habiru

• Ecological Disaster

• Invasions/Migrations• The Peoples of the Sea• The Aramaeans

• Social Revolution• Increasing disparity in wealth

between palace and countryside• The Habiru

• Ecological Disaster

The EnvironmentThe Environment

• Earthquakes• A drying of the climate in the north,

producing crop failure and famine• Grain shipments from Egypt and

Ugarit to the Hittites

• A shifting of the courses of the Tigris and Euphrates in southern Mesopotamia

• Earthquakes• A drying of the climate in the north,

producing crop failure and famine• Grain shipments from Egypt and

Ugarit to the Hittites

• A shifting of the courses of the Tigris and Euphrates in southern Mesopotamia

Rising from a Dark Age(c. 1200 - 900 BC)

Rising from a Dark Age(c. 1200 - 900 BC)

• Assyria loses control of northeast Syria to the Aramaeans

• Late 10th century: The beginning of the annual military campaign• Kings waged war on behalf of the god

Assur and the Assyrian state• Assurnasirpal II (883 - 859 BC) and

Shalmaneser III (858 - 824 BC)

• Assyria loses control of northeast Syria to the Aramaeans

• Late 10th century: The beginning of the annual military campaign• Kings waged war on behalf of the god

Assur and the Assyrian state• Assurnasirpal II (883 - 859 BC) and




• Campaigned in western Syria and Urartu

• Syria• Access to wealth

and trade routes• Vassals, “under

the yoke of Assur”

• Urartu• Obtain spoils and

reduce a military threat

• Campaigned in western Syria and Urartu

• Syria• Access to wealth

and trade routes• Vassals, “under

the yoke of Assur”

• Urartu• Obtain spoils and

reduce a military threat



Jehu, King of Israel, “under the yoke of Assur”Jehu, King of Israel, “under the yoke of Assur”

Assurnasirpal II (883 - 859 BC)

The Capital of Kalhu (Nimrud)


The Capital of Kalhu (Nimrud)


The Palace of Kalhu


The Palace of Kalhu



LamassuLamassu

Shamshi-Adad V (823 - 811 BC)

Shamshi-Adad V (823 - 811 BC)

• Inherited the throne in the midst of rebellion with the help of Babylonia

• The city-states of Syria refuse to pay tribute

• Local governors and officials act independently

• Assyria expanded too quickly; its underdeveloped administration could not function under a weak ruler

• Inherited the throne in the midst of rebellion with the help of Babylonia

• The city-states of Syria refuse to pay tribute

• Local governors and officials act independently

• Assyria expanded too quickly; its underdeveloped administration could not function under a weak ruler

Phoenicia(Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, and Arwad)

Phoenicia(Tyre, Sidon, Byblos, and Arwad)

Phoenician Colonies(Carthage)

Phoenician Colonies(Carthage)

lecture 20 neo-assyrian empire (b)

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