Who Were the Assyrians?
Typical Assyrian Man (Middle-Class)
The Assyrians were a tribe in Northern Mesopotamia around 1800 B.C. They were very territorial and built a large army to protect their land around 1300 B.C. In 1200 B.C., the Assyrians realized that their army was capable of taking over the rest of Mesopotamia, not just defending their territory. The Assyrians' most important victory was in 1150 B.C., when they destroyed Babylon, their archenemy. Within a short period of time, Mesopotamia, Israel, and Egypt was under the control of the Assyrians, who named their empire the Assyrian Empire. The empire's capital was Nineveh on the Tigris River. It was about 400 miles northeast of Babylon.
Assyrian Military
The Assyrians military was very strong. When the soldiers attacked the walls of a city, they either used ladders to climb over it or tunnel under it. Battering rams were also used to break the city's gates. After a city was taken over, Assyrian soldiers burning all the buildings. They also took treasures and kill or capture a city's inhabitants. In a one-on-one confrontation, the Assyrians almost always won. This was because the Assyrians had a way of making iron stronger. This was done by hammering it and then rapidly cooled it. Lastly, the Assyrians used chariots for speed and bows for picking off the enemy in war. The Assyrians definitely had a strong military.
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Government
One way the Assyrians kept order to their empire was by the government. The Assyrian kings divided the empire into provinces. A province is a district, like today's states. In each province their was a separate ruler who made sure all the laws were obeyed and the people paid their taxes. Lastly, the Assyrian kings built roads for traders with government posts along it. These posts helped keep robbers away, let traders rest, and make sure everything the traders brought was legal. The Assyrians unquestionably created the states we know today. (Up: Artwork of Assyrians fighting lions. The Assyrians viewed lions as good or evil. Assyrians also loved art.)
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Life in Assyria
 Assyrian Lion-man. Guarded the city gates.
For those who lived in Assyria, life was nice. The Assyrians were builders and made large temples, palaces, and comfortable homes. Also, the Assyrians loved literature. It was they who started the first libraries. Thanks to the library in Nineveh, Assyria's capital, archaeologists today know a lot about Assyrian life.
If one was living in a land conquered by the Assyrians, it was not a good one. To start with, one would have to move somewhere else. One had to learn the language of Assyria, Babylonian writing, and pay heavy taxes as well. One would also have to learn the laws and gods of Assyria, which were the Babylonian ones. A person who failed to follow these rules was severely punished. Life in Assyria was really different that one outside Assyria. |
Fall of the Empire
Assyria's harsh treatment to the people it ruled stirred a rebellion among the empire. However, the Assyrian government was strong until 650 B.C. At that time, the Assyrians began fighting over who would be the next king. Down south where the Sumerians lived, the kingdom of Chaldea decided it was time to rebel. Chaldea united with another unhappy kingdom under Assyrian rule and captured Nineveh, Assyria's capital. The grand Assyrian empire had fallen.
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