Assyria is a state that has existed since the 24th century. BC e. and until the 7th century. BC e. She conquered much of the Middle East, created a new political system, and influenced Hellenistic and Oriental cultures. The military and scientific technologies of Assyria influenced the development of ancient civilizations and were used by the leading powers of the ancient era.

During its heyday, Assyria occupied the territory from the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the Caspian Sea. It included the largest rivers of Mesopotamia: the Tigris and the Euphrates.

In the 21st century, the following states are located on the site of Ancient Assyria:

• Iran (partially);
• Turkey (partially);
• Lebanon;
• Iraq;
• Syria;
• Israel;
• Saudi Arabia (partially);
• Jordan (partly).

The relief of Assyria is represented by plains, deserts and mountainous areas. In the north of the ancient country were the Taurus Mountains, from where the Tigris River originated. Most of the territory of the state was located on the Jezira plateau and the Mesopotamian lowland, where important trade routes passed.

Conventionally, Assyria was divided by the Great Zab River into 2 agricultural regions, irrigated with the help of tributaries.

The oldest city in Assyria is Nineveh, which arose as a result of the fusion of many cultures of the Neolithic era. It became the capital of the state in the Neo-Assyrian period. The first capital city of the state was Ashur, destroyed in the 7th century BC. e.

The following cities also had the status of the capital:

• Shubat-Enlil and Ekallatum (capital from 1807 to 1720 BC);
• Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta (capital from 1210 to 1207 BC);
• Kalhu (capital from 870 to 707 BC);
• Dur-Sharrukin (capital from 707 to 690 BC);
• Harran (capital from 612 to 610 BC);
• Carchemish (capital from 610 to 605 BC).

The population of northern Assyria consisted mainly of nomadic Amorites and Akkadians. The Babylonians and the ancient Assyrians lived in the south of the country. At the present time, most of the territory of the former Assyria is inhabited by Iraqi Arabs, Turkmens, Syrians, Kurds and Turks.

Historical significance of Assyria and major achievements

Assyria is an ancient civilization that managed to organize the world's first disciplined regular army. Its soldiers were the first to use weapons made of iron.

This state has achieved success in the art of siege and the design of long-range guns. Assyrian commanders created the first prototypes of onagers and ballistas used in the Roman armies. Military reforms allowed the state to seize Western Asia and conquer Egypt.

The following table shows the structure of the average Assyrian army:

Types of weapons	Technical devices	Types of troops
iron swords	siege towers	Infantry
battle axes	Rams	Javelin throwers
Dart	Assault ladders	Cavalry
Spears		War chariots
Shields		Slingers
shells
Sling

Assyria achieved success in such fields of science as engineering, astronomy and medicine. Assyrian specialists built the first water pipelines, canals and aqueducts 3 km long. Scientific works were kept in the library of the city of Nineveh.

They indicated the results of the observation of Assyrian scientists. After the defeat of the state, the library was partially destroyed. Manuscripts and books were moved to other cities. In the middle of the 19th century, archaeologists discovered the remains of the library of Nineveh and collected the remaining scientific works.

Assyria is an ancient civilization. Achievements

Assyrian creators were able to recreate a huge number of objects of fine art, literature and poetry. The works described the traditions of Mesopotamia and Mesopotamia. Assyria influenced the development of culture, art and architecture of Iran, Parthia and Persia.

State structure and rulers

The supreme rulers of Assyria bore the title of Ishshiakkum. They had partial power and could pass it on by inheritance. Ishshiakkum was engaged in the spiritual and construction industry of the country. The supreme rulers were chief priests, land managers and military leaders.

The policy of Assyria was determined by the Council of Elders. His workers were called "limmu". Each member of the Council of Elders headed the treasuries that determined the development of the state institutions of Assyria.

The state has developed a system of community self-government. As the borders of the state expanded, the power of the Supreme Ruler increased. Gradually, adherents of Ishshiakkum began to occupy places in the Council of Elders, which led to the establishment of an absolute monarchy.

The first Ishshiakkum of Assyria was Tudia, the last was Ashur-uballit II.

The following rulers had a major impact on the development of the state:

Most of the kings of Assyria are buried in the city of Ashur. During the archaeological excavations, jewelry and personal belongings of the rulers were found in the burial places.

Dynasties

The first rulers of Assyria were the tribal leaders or city governors of the Ashur nome. The periods of their rule were characterized by military democracy with elements of a communal system. The first Assyrian dynasty was founded by Puzur-Ashur I at the beginning of the 20th century. BC e. Under her, the communal system began to weaken and the first self-government bodies appeared. The dynasty of Puzur-Ashur I was overthrown by the Amorites.

In the XIX century BC. e. power in Assyria was seized by the dynasty of Shamshi-Adad I. During the period of her reign, statehood was formed. Assyria becomes a kingdom, and the rulers acquire absolute power. The dynasty of Shamshi-Adad I ceased to exist in the 8th century. BC e. as a result of internecine wars under Tiglath-pileser III.

The last Assyrian dynasty was formed in 721 BC. e. after the accession to the throne of King Sargon II. The Sargonids came to power after a coup.

They eliminated the legitimate heir Shalmaneser V and violated the law of succession to the throne. During the reign of this dynasty, Assyria became an empire where Ishshiakkum had absolute power. Under the Sargonid dynasty, the Assyrian state collapsed due to numerous raids from Media and Babylonia.

Historical periods of development

Historians distinguish 3 historical periods of development: Old Assyrian, Middle Assyrian and New Assyrian.

Old Assyrian period (from the XXV-XXIV century BC to the XV century BC)

Assyria is an ancient civilization that originated in the Arabian desert. Initially, the center of the state was the city of Ashur. It was named after the god of war Ashur and was the capital of the new state of the same name. The Assyrians were engaged in the cultivation of cereals and grapes.

They used land irrigation technologies that contributed to the increase in crops on dry land. In the eastern part of the country, the branches of agriculture and cattle breeding were developed. Gradually, Ashur began to influence the trade routes of Asia Minor and South Mesopotamia.

In the 2nd millennium BC. e. Assyrians captured the colony of Gasur, where there were large deposits of metals. During the colonization of Asia Minor, the Assyrian state began to import leather, wool and wood. In return, Assyria exported agricultural and livestock products. Assyrian artisans and craftsmen lived in the colony, developing the extraction of raw materials and consumables.

In the Old Assyrian period, Assyria was a state with a slave system. The lands belonging to the community were cultivated by slaves. The communal territory was subjected to redistribution and transferred to private ownership.

Residents who owned land became representatives of the upper strata of the population. They could acquire slaves for a long time. In most cases, slaves were acquired through trade or during military campaigns.

In the XX century BC. e. The economy of Assyria was partially destroyed due to the formation of the Hittite kingdom, which blocked trade routes in Asia Minor, and the state of Mari, which seized the territories of the Euphrates River. During this period, the Ishshiakkums organized the first military campaigns.

Assyria has captured the cities of northern Mesopotamia and is reestablishing trade with Western powers. In 1781 BC. e. she established a protectorate over Mari and occupied the Syrian settlement of Qatna.

Assyria was an ancient civilization pursuing an aggressive offensive policy. In the Old Assyrian period, she waged wars in the eastern, northern and western directions.

But this state maintained neutral relations with the southern powers of Mesopotamia: Babylonia and Eshnunna. As a result of territorial expansion, Assyria took possession of the territories of Asia Minor and the eastern Mediterranean in the 19th and 18th centuries. BC e.

In the last years of the Old Assyrian period, Assyria was ruled by King Shamshi-Adad I. He strengthened the power of Ishshiakkum and partially abolished the functions of the Council of Elders. Assyria was divided into districts and khalsums - provinces.

Assyria during the reign of Shamshi-Adad I.

At the head of the administrative units were governors appointed by order of the ruler. After the reorganization, a tax system and a regular army appeared in the country, consisting of trained soldiers and a people's militia.

At the end of the 16th century BC. e. Assyria went to war with Babylonia, which was under the control of Hammurabi. The state of Mari and the Kingdom of Mitann became allies of the Babylonian ruler. Being surrounded by opponents, Assyria was defeated in the war and lost the occupied territories. The economic situation in the country worsened due to the loss of trade routes in Asia Minor and Syria.

Middle Assyrian period (from the 14th century BC to the 10th century BC)

At the beginning of the Middle Assyrian period, Assyria began a military campaign to regain the lands lost in the war with Babylonia and the Mitannian kingdom. She enters into an alliance with Egypt, led by Pharaoh Thutmose III. This alliance contributed to the development of diplomatic relations between the states and made it possible to control the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Allies created transport routes across the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and organized joint trade. At the beginning of the XIV century BC. e. Assyrian ruler Ashur-uballit I staged a coup in Babylonia. As a result, the Babylonian throne is occupied by proteges supporting the policy of Assyria.

During the reign of the kings Adad-Nerari I and Shalmaneser I, Assyria carried out the seizure of the western territories of the Mitannian state. Assyrian soldiers took 30,000 prisoners and continued their advance north to occupy Transcaucasia.

In the XII century. BC e. the treasury of Assyria was devastated due to continuous wars, which led to the decline of the state on the international stage. It was possible to restore the economy a century later, after Tiglath-Pileser I came to power. The abolition of the Hittite kingdom and the fragmentation of Egypt contributed to the economic recovery of Assyria.

Assyria organized 30 campaigns against Syria and northern Phoenicia, capturing crossings across the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Assyrian rulers forced the inhabitants of the occupied territories to pay tribute, the merchants were subject to increased duties, which made it possible to eliminate the shortage of funds in the treasury.

During this period, the fortress of Nineveh was built, designed to protect the royal treasures. After the decline of ancient Ashur, it became the capital of Assyria.

In the Middle Assyrian period, the population of Assyria continued to be slave-owning. Classes of landowners, merchants, priests and court nobility appeared. The land was owned by community members who controlled the irrigation system.

The kings lost absolute power and occupied themselves with religious or military matters. The role of the Council of Elders decreased, state administration was carried out by the Assyrian nobility, formed from large community members.

At the end of the XI century. BC e. Assyria experienced raids from the nomadic tribes of the Arameans, who settled throughout the country. For 150 years the country was in a fragmented state.

With the onset of the new millennium, iron was discovered. Assyria used this material for the manufacture of guns, shields and siege structures. The iron trade and the political crisis in Babylon contributed to the rise of Assyria in the international arena. At the end of the Middle Assyrian period, new powers appeared on the world map: Media, Lydia and Persia.

Neo-Assyrian period (from the 9th century BC to the 7th century BC)

In the ninth century BC. e. Assyria was proclaimed an empire. She resumed expansion in the Middle East. The occupied lands were completely ruined, and local residents moved to remote areas of the country. The massacres led to a lack of human resources. Assyria experienced a shortage of slaves and officials to collect tax revenues.

The authorities of Assyria began to carry out the militarization of the country, which worsened relations with other states of the East. Residents of trading cities, exempted from military service, were deprived of their privileges. Babylon retained special rights. This city has long been the cultural capital of Assyria.

Large temples, palaces and architectural statues were built here. The population of Babylon opposed the policy of the Assyrian rulers and staged uprisings. In the 7th century BC e. The city was destroyed by order of King Sennacherib. The ruin of Babylon led to riots in Nineveh, so the city was rebuilt.

In the 1st millennium BC. e. In Assyria, a political crisis began, caused by the militarization of the state and constant wars. The state of Urartu appeared on the international arena, carrying out raids on Syria and Asia Minor.

Due to the great corruption and fragmentation of the army, Assyria suffered defeat in the war with Urartu. Therefore, with the coming to power of King Tiglathpalasar, a military reform was carried out. The ruler staffed a combat-ready army of trained warriors and disbanded the militia, which had low effectiveness in defense and offensive.

Tiglathpalasar increased the number of light infantry and created mounted units. Armor and helmets began to be used to protect warriors. After the military reform, the army was accompanied by priests and musicians who raised the morale of the recruits.

A system of agents and scouts was created to collect information about the enemy. The renewed army consisted of 120,000 soldiers, divided into detachments of 10 to 1,000 people. Mercenaries were completely absent in the Assyrian troops. As a result of the military reform, Tiglathpalasar made 2 successful military campaigns, capturing the territory of Urartu.

The death of Assyria

In 614 BC. e. Assyria was attacked by a military coalition. It included Media, Babylon and the nomadic tribes of the Scythians. After a long siege, the cities of Ashur and Nineveh were captured. The defeat of the Assyrians took place in 605 BC. e. The Assyrian army was defeated by the troops of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.

Causes of the death of the Assyrian state:

• uprisings of the inhabitants of the occupied territories;
• political instability within the state;
• unification of Babylonia and Media;
• the appearance of iron tools in other countries.

The Middle Eastern powers divided the territory of Assyria. Assyrian rulers and nobles were put on trial and executed.

Culture of Assyria

Assyria is an ancient civilization that combines the cultural characteristics of the peoples of the Ancient East. Assyrian culture was formed as a result of the seizure of new territories and countries. Babylonia had a special influence on her. Assyria adopted elements of writing from this state. A system of libraries was created, where over 25,000 books, manuscripts and clay tablets were stored.

In the archives of Assyria, ancient treatises on medicine and mathematics, culinary and household recipes, works of the Sumerians and legal documentation were collected. Professional scribes worked in the libraries of Assyria, transcribing hundreds of works of the great figures of the Ancient World. With the help of these written sources, modern historians have been able to learn about the daily life of the Assyrians, their customs and traditions.

Art and architecture

Assyria is an ancient civilization that influenced the development of art and architecture in the Middle East. Assyrian works of architecture and art are represented by numerous bas-reliefs that have survived to this day.

The Assyrians decorated buildings with murals and complex ornaments. Most often, architects and artists depicted bulls with wings and human heads, symbolizing the Assyrian rulers. The construction technologies of Assyria were used in the construction of Persian palaces and castles, considered masterpieces of art and architecture.

Religion

The Assyrians were pagans and believed primarily in the Babylonian gods.

Marduk

A special place in Assyrian mythology was occupied by Ashur, who was an analogue of the Babylonian god of war Marduk.

The deities were considered immortal and powerful.

They possessed the flaws and virtues of ordinary people and had a unique purpose.

The inhabitants of Assyria believed in a God close to their line of work. They paid honors and held religious ceremonies.

Divine amulets and amulets, which protected from the effects of negative energy, were very popular among the Assyrians.

Part of the population retained ancient beliefs and superstitions that arose before the capture of Babylonia.

Modern descendants of the Assyrians are adherents of Christianity. They belong to the Chaldean Catholic Church of the East.

Mighty Assyria is an ancient civilization that determined the vector of development of human history. This state created the foundations of fundamental sciences and influenced the art, religion and culture of the countries of the Middle East and Hellas.

Assyrian commanders created new tactics for warfare and formed the structure of a regular army. Despite the development of the social and spiritual spheres, Assyria was a militarized state, pursuing a policy of expansion, which led to frequent riots and the subsequent disintegration of the country.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about Assyrian civilization

Formation of Assyria and New Babylon:

Where is Assyria

“Out of this land came Asshur and built Nineveh, Rehobothir, Kalah and Resen between Nineveh and between Kalah; this is a great city"(Gen. 10:11,12)

Assyria is one of the greatest states of the ancient world, which went down in history thanks to its outstanding military campaigns and conquests, cultural achievements, art and cruelty, knowledge and strength. As with all the great powers of antiquity, Assyria can be looked at with different eyes. It was Assyria that possessed the first professional, disciplined army of the ancient world, a victorious army that made neighboring peoples tremble in fear, an army that sowed horror and fear. But it was in the library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal that an unusually large and valuable collection of clay tablets was preserved, which became the most valuable source for studying the science, culture, religion, art and life of those distant times.

Where is Assyria

Assyria, at the time of its highest development, owned vast territories both between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and the vast eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. To the east, the possessions of the Assyrians extended almost to the Caspian Sea. Today, on the territory of the former Assyrian kingdom there are such modern countries as Iraq, Iran, part of Turkey, part of Saudi Arabia.

History of Assyria

The greatness of Assyria, however, like all great powers, did not manifest itself in history immediately, it was preceded by a long period of formation and emergence of Assyrian statehood. This power was formed from nomadic Bedouin shepherds who once lived in the Arabian desert. Although the desert is there now, and earlier there was a very pleasant steppe, but the climate has changed, droughts have come and many Bedouin shepherds, as a result of this reason, chose to move to the fertile lands in the Tigris River valley, where they founded the city of Ashur, which became the beginning of the creation of a mighty Assyrian state. The location of Assur was chosen very well - it was at the crossroads of trade routes, other developed states of the ancient world were located in the neighborhood: Sumer, Akkad, which intensively traded (but not only, sometimes fought) with each other. In a word, very soon Ashur turned into a developed trade and cultural center, where merchants played the leading role.

At first, Ashur, the heart of the Assyrian state, like the Assyrians themselves, did not even have political independence: at first it was under the control of Akkad, then it came under the control of the Babylonian king, famous for his code of laws, then under the rule of Mitania. Ashur remained under the rule of Mitania for a whole 100 years, although, of course, he also had his own autonomy, Ashur was headed by a ruler, who was a kind of vassal of the Mitanian king. But in the 14th century BC e. Mitania fell into decay and Ashur (and with it the Assyrian people) gained true political independence. From this moment begins a glorious period in the history of the Assyrian kingdom.

Under King Tiglapalasar III, who ruled from 745 to 727 BC. e. Ashur, or Assyria is turning into a real superpower of antiquity, active militant expansion has been chosen as a foreign policy, constant victorious wars with neighbors are being waged, bringing an influx of gold, slaves, new lands and related benefits to the country. And now the warriors of the militant Assyrian king are marching through the streets of ancient Babylon: the Babylonian kingdom, which once itself ruled the Assyrians and arrogantly considers itself their “elder brothers” (reminds nothing?) is defeated by its former subjects.

The Assyrians owe their brilliant victories to the very important military reform that King Tiglapalasar carried out - it was he who created the first professional army in history. After all, before, as it was, the army was made up mainly of tillers, who replaced the plow with a sword for the period of the war. Now it was staffed by professional soldiers who did not have their own land plots, all the expenses for their maintenance were paid by the state. And instead of plowing the land in peacetime, they improved their military skills all the time. Also, the use of metal weapons, which actively came into use at that time, played a big role in the victory of the Assyrian troops.

The Assyrian king Sargon II, who ruled from 721 to 705 BC. e. strengthened the conquests of his predecessor, finally conquering the Urartian kingdom, which was the last strong opponent of the rapidly gaining strength of Assyria. True, Sargon, without knowing it, was helped by those who attacked the northern borders of Urartu. Sargon, being a smart and prudent strategist, simply could not help but take advantage of such a great opportunity to finally finish off his already weakened opponent.

Fall of Assyria

Assyria grew rapidly, new and new occupied lands brought into the country a constant stream of gold, slaves, Assyrian kings built luxurious cities, so the new capital of the Assyrian kingdom, the city of Nineveh, was built. But on the other hand, the aggressive policy of the Assyrians bred the hatred of the captured, conquered peoples. Here and there rebellions and uprisings broke out, many of them were drowned in blood, for example, the son of Sargon Sineherib, after suppressing the uprising in Babylon, brutally cracked down on the rebels, ordered the remaining population to be deported, and Babylon itself was razed to the ground, flooded with the waters of the Euphrates. And only under the son of Sineherib, king Assarhaddon, this great city was rebuilt.

The cruelty of the Assyrians towards the conquered peoples was also reflected in the Bible, in the Old Testament Assyria is mentioned more than once, for example, in the story of the prophet Jonah, God tells him to go preach in Nineveh, which he really did not want to do, as a result he ended up in the womb of a large fish, and after a miraculous salvation, he still went to Nineveh to preach repentance. But the Assyrians did not appease the sermons of the biblical prophets, and already around 713 BC. e. The prophet Nahum prophesied about the death of the sinful Assyrian kingdom.

Well, his prophecy came true. All the surrounding countries united against Assyria: Babylon, Media, Arab Bedouins, and even the Scythians. The combined forces defeated the Assyrians in 614 BC. That is, they besieged and destroyed the heart of Assyria - the city of Ashur, and two years later a similar fate befell the capital of Nineveh. At the same time, the legendary Babylon returned to its former power. In 605 B.C. e. the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in the battle of Carchemish finally defeated the Assyrians.

Culture of Assyria

Despite the fact that the Assyrian state left an unkind mark in ancient history, nevertheless, during its heyday, it had many cultural achievements, which cannot be ignored.

In Assyria, writing actively developed and flourished, libraries were created, the largest of them, the library of King Ashurbanipal, consisted of 25 thousand clay tablets. According to the grandiose plan of the king, the library, which served part-time as a state archive, was supposed to become not much, not a little, but a repository of all the knowledge ever accumulated by mankind. What is there just not there: the legendary Sumerian epic and Gilgamesh, and the works of the ancient Chaldean priests (and in fact scientists) on astronomy and mathematics, and the oldest treatises on medicine giving us the most interesting information about the history of medicine in antiquity, and countless religious hymns, and pragmatic business records, and scrupulous legal documents. A whole specially trained team of scribes worked at the library, whose task was to copy all the significant works of Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia.

The architecture of Assyria also received significant development, Assyrian architects achieved considerable skill in the construction of palaces and temples. Some of the decorations in Assyrian palaces are excellent examples of Assyrian art.

Art of Assyria

The famous Assyrian bas-reliefs, which were once the interior decorations of the palaces of the Assyrian kings and have survived to this day, give us a unique opportunity to touch the Assyrian art.

In general, the art of ancient Assyria is full of pathos, strength, valor, it glorifies the courage and victory of the conquerors. On the bas-reliefs, images of winged bulls with human faces are often found; they symbolize the Assyrian kings - arrogant, cruel, powerful, formidable. That is what they were in reality.

Assyrian art subsequently had a great influence on the formation of art.

Religion of Assyria

The religion of the ancient Assyrian state was largely borrowed from Babylon, and many Assyrians worshiped the same pagan gods as the Babylonians, but with one significant difference - the true Assyrian god Ashur was revered as the supreme god, who was considered the head even of the god Marduk, the supreme god of the Babylonian pantheon. In general, the gods of Assyria, as well as Babylon, are somewhat similar to the gods of ancient Greece, they are powerful, immortal, but at the same time they have weaknesses and shortcomings of mere mortals: they can be envious or adulterous with earthly beauties (as Zeus liked to do).

Different groups of people, depending on their occupation, could have a different patron god, to whom they gave the most honors. There was a strong belief in various magical ceremonies, as well as magical amulets, superstitions. Part of the Assyrians preserved the remnants of even more ancient pagan beliefs of those times when their ancestors were still nomadic shepherds.

Assyria - masters of war, video

And in conclusion, we suggest you watch an interesting documentary about Assyria on the Culture channel.

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The Assyrian state is considered the first empire in the history of mankind. Power, where the cult of cruelty flourished, lasted until 605 BC. until it was destroyed by the combined forces of Babylon and Media.

Birth of Ashur

In the II millennium BC. the climate in the Arabian Peninsula worsened. This forced the natives to leave their original territory and go in search of a "better life". Among them were the Assyrians. They chose the valley of the Tigris River as their new homeland and founded the city of Ashur on its banks.

Although a fertile place was chosen for the city, the presence of more powerful neighbors (Sumerians, Akkadians and others) could not but affect the life of the Assyrians. They had to be the best at everything in order to survive. Merchants began to play a key role in the young state.

But political independence came later. First, Ashur was under the control of Akkad, then Ur, captured by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, and after that the city became dependent on Mitania.

Ashur remained under the rule of Mitania for about a hundred years. But under King Shalmaneser I, the state was strengthened. The result is the destruction of Mitania. And its territory, accordingly, went to Assyria.

Tiglath-Pileser I (1115 - 1076 BC) managed to bring the state to a new level. All neighbors began to reckon with him. It seemed that the "finest hour" was close. But in 1076 B.C. the king is dead. And among the contenders for the throne, there was no worthy successor. The Aramean nomads took advantage of this and inflicted several crushing defeats on the Assyrian troops. The territory of the state was sharply reduced - the captured cities came out of power. In the end, Assyria was left with only its ancestral lands, and the country itself was in the deepest crisis.

Neo-Assyrian power

It took Assyria more than two hundred years to recover from the blow. Only under King Tiglapalasar III, who ruled from 745 to 727 BC. the rise of the state began. First of all, the ruler dealt with the Urartian kingdom, having managed to conquer most of the cities and fortresses of the enemy. Then there were successful trips to Phoenicia, Syria, Palestine. The crowning activity of Tiglapalasar III was the ascent to the Babylonian throne.

The military success of the king is directly related to the reforms he is carrying out. So, he reorganized the army, which used to consist of landowners. Now, soldiers who did not have their own sector were recruited into it, and the state took over all the material support costs. In fact, Tiglapalasar III became the first king to have a regular army at his disposal. In addition, the use of metal weapons played a big role in the success.

The next ruler Sargon II (721-705 BC) was destined for the role of the great conqueror. He spent almost the entire time of his reign on campaigns, annexing new lands, and also suppressing uprisings. But the most significant victory of Sargon is the final defeat of the Urartian kingdom.

In general, this state has long been considered the main enemy of Assyria. But the Urartian kings were afraid to fight directly. Therefore, they in every possible way pushed certain peoples dependent on the country of Ashur to revolt. Unexpected help to the Assyrians was provided by the Cimmerians, even if they themselves did not want it. The Urartian king Rusa I suffered a crushing defeat from the nomads, and Sargon could not fail to take advantage of such a gift.

Fall of the god Khaldi

In 714 B.C. he decided to put an end to the enemy and moved inland, but crossing the mountains was not easy. In addition, Rusa, thinking that the enemy was heading for Tushpa (the capital of Urartu), began to gather a new army. And Sargon decided not to risk it. Instead of the capital, he attacked the religious center of Urartu - the city of Musasir. Rusa did not expect this, because he was sure that the Assyrians would not dare to desecrate the sanctuary of the god Khaldi. After all, he was honored in the northern part of Assyria. Rusa was so sure of this that he even hid the state treasury in Musasir.

The result is sad. Sargon captured the city and its treasures, and ordered the statue of Khaldi to be sent to his capital. Rusa could not survive such a blow and committed suicide. The cult of Haldi in the country was greatly shaken, and the state itself was on the verge of death and no longer posed a threat to Assyria.

The death of an empire

The Assyrian empire grew. But the policy pursued by its kings in relation to the captured peoples led to constant revolts. The destruction of cities, the extermination of the population, the cruel executions of the kings of the defeated peoples - all this caused hatred for the Assyrians. For example, the son of Sargon Sennacherrib (705-681 BC), after the suppression of the uprising in Babylon, executed part of the population, and deported the rest. He destroyed the city itself and flooded the Euphrates. And this was an unjustifiably cruel act, because the Babylonians and Assyrians are kindred peoples. Moreover, the former always considered the latter to be their younger brothers. This may have played a role. Sennacherrib decided to get rid of the arrogant "relatives".

Assarhaddon, who came to power after Sennacherrib, rebuilt Babylon, but the situation escalated every year. And even a new surge in the greatness of Assyria under Ashurbanipal (668-631 BC) could not stop the inevitable collapse. After his death, the country plunged into endless strife, which Babylon and Media took advantage of in time, enlisting the support of the Scythians, as well as Arab princes.

In 614 B.C. The Medes destroyed the ancient Ashur, the heart of Assyria. The Babylonians did not participate in the capture of the city; according to the official version, they were late. In fact, they simply did not want to participate in the destruction of the shrines of a kindred people.

Two years later, the capital, Nineveh, also fell. And in 605 BC. in the Battle of Karchemish, Prince Nebuchadnezzar (who later became famous for his hanging gardens) finished off the Assyrians. The empire died, but its people did not die, who retained their self-identity to this day.

Ancient Assyria

Assyria proper occupied a small area along the upper Tigris, which stretched from the lower Zab in the south to the Zagra mountains in the east and to the Macios mountains in the northwest. To the west, a vast Syrian-Mesopotamian steppe opened up, which was crossed in the northern part by the mountains of Sinjar. On this small territory, at different times, such Assyrian cities as Ashur, Nineveh, Arbela, Kalah and Dur-Sharrukin arose.

At the end of the XXII century. BC e. Southern Mesopotamia is united under the auspices of the Sumerian kings from the third dynasty of Ur. In the next century, they are already establishing their control in northern Mesopotamia.

Thus, at the turn of the III and II millennia BC. e. it was still difficult to foresee the transformation of Assyria into a mighty power. Only in the 19th century BC e. the Assyrians make their first military successes and rush far beyond the territory they occupy, which, as the military power of Assyria grows, gradually expands. Thus, during its greatest development, Assyria extended 350 miles in length, and in width (between the Tigris and Euphrates) from 170 to 300 miles. According to the English researcher G. Rawlinson, the entire area occupied by Assyria,

"equaled to no less than 7,500 square miles, that is, it covered an area larger than that which is occupied by ... Austria or Prussia, more than twice the size of Portugal and a little less than Great Britain."

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Babylon and Assyria The Religion of the Ancient Sumerians Along with Egypt, the lower reaches of two large rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, became the birthplace of another ancient civilization. This area was called Mesopotamia (Greek Mesopotamia), or Mesopotamia. Conditions for the historical development of peoples

The militant power originated from the small city of Ashur, founded in the upper reaches of the Tigris River. Its name was associated with the religious cult of Ashur, which in translation meant "lord of the countries", "father of all ancestors". The state in the northern part of the ancient Mesopotamia - Ashur or the Empire of Assyria. For several centuries, it joined several states. The main industry of the Assyrians was the cultivation of wheat, grapes, hunting, and livestock breeding.

The Assyrian kingdom was at the crossroads of trade sea routes and was the goal of conquering many ancient civilizations . Over time, they became skilled craftsmen in the art of war and conquered more than one state. By the 8th century BC. they managed to conquer most of the states of the Middle East, including the powerful Ancient Egypt.

Assyrian conquests

The main regiments of the Assyrian army were foot troops, attacking with arrows from bows, protected by iron swords. Horse riders were armed with bows and spears and could move on forged war harnessed chariots. The art of war so permeated the life of the ancient civilization of Assyria that they invented machines that moved, destroying everything in their path. They were equipped with rafters, along which troops could climb the walls of enemy fortresses or ram them. It was not easy in those days for the neighbors of this warlike people. They were cursed and wished soon the hour of reckoning for all their atrocities. The early Christian prophet Nahum predicted the death of the last center of the Assyrian Empire, Nineveh: The empire and its capital will be plundered and destroyed! There will be retribution for the spilled blood!”

As a result of numerous military campaigns, not only the military power and skill of the people of the empire began to grow, but also the treasury of wealth was replenished by plundering other states. The kings arranged for themselves huge luxurious palaces. The infrastructure of cities expanded.

Kings of the Empire of Assyria

The kings of ancient Assyria considered themselves unsurpassed masters of civilizations, ruling over the whole world not only of people, but also of nature. The most important entertainment for them was bloody fights with lions. So they showed their superiority over the animal world and its subjugation. Pictures depicting the Assyrians emphasized the warlike image of the inhabitants of the empire, with heavy forms and served as a demonstration of their physical strength.

In the middle of the 19th century, researchers undertook a campaign to organize archaeological excavations at the site where the fabulous Nineveh once flourished. The ruins of the palace of the Assyrian king Sargon II were also discovered. Wealthy inhabitants of the ancient civilization preferred to hold noisy feasts, accompanied by entertainment.

Culture of Assyria (Ashshura)

A special place in the history of the ancient world was occupied not only by military successes, but also by the era of enlightenment in Assyria. During the excavations, scientists discovered several libraries, the most famous of which is the reading room of King Ashurbanipal. Which was equipped in the capital Nineveh. It contained hundreds of thousands of cuneiform clay tablets. They were strictly ordered, numbered and contained information about the history, religion and court cases not only in the cities of Assyria, but also copied texts from neighboring ancient civilizations: the Roman Empire, Sumeria, Ancient Egypt.

With the advent of the 7th century BC. The Assyrian kingdom was destroyed by the army of Babylon. The capital was completely burned out, including the libraries of Nineveh. For thousands of years, the heritage of the culture of the ancient civilizations of the world lay, covered with a layer of sand and clay, until archaeologists began to study the history of the population of Mesopotamia.

Empire of Assyria and Urartu

Ancient books of Assyria

By the 1st millennium BC. on the territory near the northern border of the ancient civilization, local tribes formed the independent state of Urartu. They were skilled gunsmiths and had huge reserves of copper. The Assyrian Empire made many raids on the fertile valley of Transcaucasia. But they managed to maintain independence throughout the existence of the system.

One of the main cities of the ancient civilization of Urartu was the capital of modern Armenia, Yerevan. Its walls were well fortified. But they could not resist the onslaught of the Assyrians, who took Urartu in the 8th century. BC.

Archaeologist B.B. managed to reveal the secrets of the existence of the ancient state of Urartu. Petrovsky, who cleared the sand and transferred civilizations to Urartu.

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