The Assyrian Kingdom and its history

The First Empire of the Ancient world was Assyria. This state has existed on the world map of almost 2000 years – XXIV by VII century BC, and about 609 BC ceased to exist. The first mention of Assyria was discovered in ancient authors such as Herodotus, Aristotle and others. Also the Assyrian Kingdom is mentioned in some books of the Bible.

Geography

The Assyrian Kingdom was located in the upper reaches of the Tigris river and stretches from the lower reaches of the Small Zab on the South to the mountains of Zagros in the East and mountains Macias in the North-West. In different periods of its existence, it was located on the land of such modern States as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus and Egypt.

The Centuries-old history known not alone the capital of the Assyrian Empire:

1. Ashur (the first capital was located 250 km from modern Baghdad).
2. Acillatem (the capital of upper Mesopotamia, was located in the middle reaches of the Tiger).
3. Nineveh (located in modern Iraq).

Historical development

As the history of the Assyrian Empire is too big time period, then the era of his existence is conventionally divided into three periods:

• Starosielski period – XX -XVI century BC.
• Sredneussuriisky period-XV-XI century BC.
• Neo-Assyria Kingdom – X-VII century BC.

Each of the periods was characterized by its internal and external policy of the state, was in power, the monarchs of various dynasties, each successive period began with the rise and flourishing state of the Assyrians, changing the geography of the Kingdom and changes in foreign policy priorities.

Starosielski period

The Assyrians came to the territory of the river Euphrates in the mid-twentieth century BC, did these tribes in the Akkadian language. First they built the city was Ashur, named in honor of their Supreme deity.

During this period did not exist a single Assyrian state, therefore, the greatest sovereign NOMOS was Ashur, who was a vassal of the Kingdom Mitani and cassiday Babylonia. Mr. had maintained a certain independence in domestic Affairs of the settlements. To asuscom noma treated several small rural settlements, headed by the elders. The city developed fast enough due to its geographical location: through it passed the trade route from the South, West and East.

Talking about the ruling in this period the monarchy was made, as the rulers had all the political rights that are characteristic of the carriers of such a status. This period in the history of Assyria was distinguished historians to include the background of the Assyrian Kingdom. Before the fall of Akkad in the XXII century BC Ashur was part of it, and after his disappearance became independent for a short period of time, and only in the twenty-first century BC it was captured by the Ur. Only 200 years later the power goes to the rulers – asuram, from this moment begins a rapid growth of trade and commodity production. However, this situation within the state did not last long, and after 100 years of Ashur loses its relevance the Central city, and the Governor becomes one of the sons of the ruler Samst-Adad. Soon the city is under the rule of the king of Babylon, Hammurabi, and only around 1720 BC begins the gradual blossoming of an independent Assyrian state.

Second period

Since the XIV century BC Assyrian rulers in the official documents already referred to as kings. Moreover, when referring to the Pharaoh of Egypt they say ‘Our brother". During this period there is an active military colonization of land: there has been invasion of the territory of the state of the Hittites, attacks on Babylonia, to the cities of Phoenicia and Syria, and 1290-1260 BC ends with the territorial decoration of the Assyrian Empire.

A New upsurge of wars of conquest of the Assyrians began in the reign of Tiglath-pileser, who was able to capture Northern Syria, Phoenicia and Asia Minor, moreover, the king went out several times on ships in the Mediterranean sea, to show their superiority over Egypt. After the death of the monarch, the conqueror in the state starts on the decline, and all subsequent kings can no longer maintain the previously occupied land. The Assyrian Kingdom were pushed to their indigenous land. Documents of the period XI-X century BC is not preserved, which testifies to the decline.

Neo-Assyria Kingdom

A New stage in the development of Assyria began after the Assyrians managed to get rid of the Aramaic tribes, which came to themterritory. It is the state created in this period, is considered the first Empire in the history of mankind. The protracted crisis in the Assyrian Empire were able to stop the kings Adad-Nirari II and Adid - Nirari III (with his mother Semiramis connect the existence of one of the 7 wonders of the world – the Hanging gardens). Unfortunately, three of the king are unable to resist under blows of external enemy – the Kingdom of Urartu, and spent an illiterate domestic policies that significantly weakened the state.

Assyria when Tiglatpalasar III

The Real growth of the Kingdom started during the reign of Tsar Tiglatpalasar III. While in power in 745-727 BCE, he was able to seize the lands of Phoenicia, Palestine, Syria, the Kingdom of Damascus, in the years of his reign was allowed many years of military conflict with the state of Urartu.

Good Luck in foreign policy due to the domestic political reforms. So the king began the forcible resettlement to their lands of inhabitants from the occupied States, together with their families and property, which led to the spread of Aramaic throughout the Assyrian Kingdom. The king solved the problem of separatism in the country, dividing a large region into many small, headed by governors, not allowing, thus, the birth of new dynasties. The king also undertook reform of the army: the army consisted of militia and military colonists, was reorganized into the professional regular army, receiving a salary from the Treasury, introduced a new kind of troops-the regular cavalry and sappers, special attention was paid to the organization of the intelligence service and communications.

The Successful military campaign led Tiglath-pileser to create an Empire stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean sea, and even to be crowned as the king of Babylon – Pool.

Urartu - the Kingdom (Transcaucasia), which was invaded by the Assyrian rulers

The Kingdom of Urartu was located on the territory of the Armenian plateau and occupied the territory of modern Armenia, Eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. The state's flourishing came at the end of IX-the middle of the VIII century BC, the decline of Urartu contributed greatly to the war with the Assyrian Kingdom.

Having Received the throne after the death of his father, king Tiglath-pileser III sought to return to their state control over Asia minor's trade routes. In 735 BCE in a decisive battle on the Western Bank of the Euphrates, the Assyrians were able to defeat the army of Urartu and move into the Kingdom. The monarch of Urartu Sarduri had fled and died, the state was in a deplorable state. His successor Rusa I was able to establish a temporary truce with Assyria, which was soon broken by the Assyrian king Sargon II.

Taking Advantage of the fact that Urartu had been weakened by the defeat received from the tribes of Cimmerians, Sargon II in 714 BCE, destroyed the Urartian army, and thus, Urartu and its dependent kingdoms were ruled by Assyria. After these events, Urartu lost its importance on the world stage.

Policies of the last Assyrian kings

The Successor of Tiglath-pileser III was not able to hold in their hands the based his predecessor Empire, and Babylon declared its independence. The next king, Sargon II, its foreign policy was not limited to possession of only the Kingdom of Urartu, he was able to regain control of Babylon, of Assyria and was crowned as the king of Babylon, he also managed to suppress all rebellion occurring in the territory of the Empire.

The Reign Sinakherib (705-680 BC) was characterized by constant conflict of the king with the priests and the townspeople. During his reign, the former king of Babylon again tried to restore his power, this led to the fact that Sinakherib cruelly punished by the Babylonians and destroyed Babylon. Dissatisfaction with the policy of the king led to the weakening of the state and, as a consequence, outbreaks of uprisings, some States regained independence, and Urartu regained some territories. This policy led to the murder of the king.

Once in power, the heir of the murdered king Esarhaddon first took over the restoration of Babylon and the establishment of relations with the priests. With regard to foreign policy, king was able to repel the invasion of the Cimmerians, to suppress antiamerica rebellion in Phoenicia and take a good hike in Egypt, which resulted in the capture of Memphis and the ascension to the throne of Egypt, but to keep this victory the king has failed due to an unexpected death.

The Last king of Assyria

The Last powerful king of Assyria was Ashurbanipal, known as the most competent ruler of Assyria. He in his Palace were collected a unique library of clay tablets. His reign was characterized by a constant struggle with vassal States wishing to regain independence.Assyria in this period fought with the Kingdom of Elam, which led to the complete defeat of the latter. Egypt and Babylon wanted to regain his independence, but as a result of numerous conflicts, they failed. Assurbanipal managed to spread its influence on Lydia, media, Phrygia, to defeat Thebes.

The Death of Assyrian Empire

The Death of Ashurbanipal was the beginning of the turmoil. Assyria was defeated by the Medes Kingdom, it gained independence Babylon. United forces of the Medes and their allies in 612 BC, was destroyed the main city of the Assyrian Empire-Nineveh. In 605 BC at Carchemish, the Babylonian heir to Nebuchadnezzar defeated the last military unit of Assyria, so Assyrian Empire was destroyed.

Historical significance of Assyria

Ancient Assyrian Empire left behind many cultural and historical monuments. To our time has preserved many of its bas-reliefs with scenes from the life of kings and nobles, a six-meter sculpture of the winged gods, many ceramics and jewelry.

A Great contribution to the development of knowledge about the Ancient world made a discovered library with thirty thousand clay tablets of king Ashurbanipal which included knowledge of medicine, astronomy, engineering, and even mentioned the Great flood.

At a high level of development was engineering – the Assyrians were able to build water-canal and aqueduct width of 13 metres and a length of 3 thousand meters.

The Assyrians were able to create one of the strongest armies of his time, the military had chariots, battering rams, spears, in battle, warriors used trained dogs, the army was well equipped.

After the fall of the Assyrian Empire heir to the centuries-old achievements was Babylon.