Western History 22: What events defined the rise and fall of Assyria?

Ancient History is replete with several warrior civilizations. We have already encountered the Hyksos and the Mycenaeans but perhaps none were as successful in their conquests (at least until the emergence of the Persians) as the Assyrians. The Assyrians were a Semitic people who emerged in Mesopotamia and played a key role in the power politics of the Near East from 1250-612 BCE (although the civilization dates back to the 27^th century BCE). Two key cities played a role in the Assyrian Empire  - Assur (the original capital that also gave its name to the people) and Nineveh to the north (a city that also features in the biblical story of Jonah).

The Assyrians conquered an Empire that stretched from the Western flank of Persia through the Levant and Israel and into Egypt As soldiers the Assyrians were renowned for their archery skills. They also used the chariot effectively and were known for building roads and highways.

Culturally the Assyrians built the first ever library of the Ancient World that contained over 200,000 clay tablets (Library of Assurbanipal – same ruler who destroyed Thebes in Egypt). They had brewed beer and had an effective postal delivery service. Some even claim that they originally invented an electric battery.

Table 4 summarizes the high points in Ancient Assyrian History.

Key Event	Date
Ashuruballit establishes foundations of the first Assyrian empire	1365 BCE
Adadnarari builds the first Assyrian empire.	1307 BCE
Second Assyrian Empire established under Tiglath-Pileser	1115 BCE
Ashurdan II sets up the Neo-Assyrian empire. The Empire spreads from the Caspian Sea to Egypt.	934 BCE
Aramaic becomes official language of Empire (same language spoken in the Holy Land at the time of the birth of Christ).	752 BCE
Assyrian conquest of Babylonia. Syria falls under control of the Assyrians.	732 BCE
Northern Israel captured by Assyrians	722 BCE
Jerusalem/Judah forced to pay tribute to Assyria . Military campaigns of Sennacherib. Campaigns were followed by those of Esarhaddon who crossed the Sinai desert by camel to fight the Egyptians.	701 BCE
Assyrian Capital of Nineveh falls to the Babylonians. Highpoint in the decline. The Empire would eventually fall in 607 BCE.	612 BCE.

The Assyrian population continues to survive as an identifiable group today. Most Assyrians are Christians (Syriac Christians) and number about 3 million. While Syria and Iraq boast the highest numbers of Assyrians populations in those regions have diminished as a result of regional instability and war.