• Originating Location:– Northern Tigris River
• Ancient Capital: Assur• Language:
– Aramaic (Semitic Language)• Empire:
– Mesopotamia, Northern Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Cyprus, SE Anatolia• Notable Kings:
– Adad-nirari II• 1st King of Assyrian Empire
– Ashurnasirpal II• Conquered Mesopotamia
– Tiglath-Pileser III• Conquered Phoenicia, Syria & Canaan
– Sargon II• Conquered the Kingdom of Israel & Cyprus
– Sennacherib• Destroyed Babylon, took territory from Judah & conquered Egypt
– Ashurbanipal• Established the ‘Library of Ashurbanipal’
– 1st systematically organized library• Decline:
– Destroyed by an alliance of Scythians, Cimmerians, Medes and Chaldeans (Babylonians)
• Standing Army:– Infantry (Spearmen, Swordsmen)
• Iron Weapons– Archers– Cavalry– Charioteers
• Communication:– Pony Express– Maintained road and bridge system
• Psychological Warfare:– Attempted to have enemies surrender before attacking
• Deportation:– Mass deportation was a punishment for rebellions
• Siege Weapons:– Ladder, Battering Ram, Tunnels
• Total Destruction:– Cities that could not be subdued or assimilated would be destroyed