undefined
undefined
Assyria and the Assyrians
A Semitic people, the Assyrians lived in the northern area of Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers at the city-state of Ashur. Under the leadership of Shamshi-Adad the Assyrians tried to create their own empire, but they were squashed by the Babylonian king, Hammurabi. Then the Asiatic Hurrians (Mitanni) invaded, but they were, in turn, overcome by the growing Hittite Empire. The Hittites gave up control of Ashur because it was too far away; thereby granting the Assyrians their long sought independence (c. 1400 B.C.).
The Assyrians didn't just want independence, though. They wanted control and so, under their leader Tukulti-Ninurta (c. 1233-c. 1197 B.C.), known in legend as Ninus, the Assyrians set out to conquer Babylonia. Under their ruler Tiglat-Pileser (1116-1090), the Assyrians extended their empire into Syria and Armenia. Between 883 and 824, under Ashurnazirpal II (883-859 B.C.) and Shalmeneser III (858-824 B.C.) the Assyrians conquered all of Syria and Armenia, Palestine, Babylon and southern Mesopotamia. For the sake of control, the Assyrians forced their conquered subjects into exile, including the Hebrews who were exiled to Babylon.
The Assyrians were right to be fearful of the Babylonians because, in the end, the Babylonians with help from the Medes, destroyed the Assyrian Empire and burned Ninevah.
Babylon was a problem having nothing to do with the Jewish diaspora, since it resisted Assyrian rule. Tukulti-Ninurta destroyed the city and set up an Assyrian capital at Ninevah where the last great Assyrian monarch, Ashurbanipal, later established his great library. But then, out of religious fear (because Babylon was Marduk's territory), the Assyrians rebuilt Babylon.
What happened to Ashurbanipal's great library? Because the books were clay, 30,000 fire-hardened tablets remain today providing a wealth of information on Mesopotamian culture, myth, and literature.
For information on Mesopotamia, see the first of the series of Near East Introductory articles -- Sumer
For information on Hammurabi, Marduk, and Babylonia, see the second of the series of Near East Introductory articles -- Babylonia
Suggested Reading
Maps of Syria, Assyria, and Mesopotamia
Assyrian Kings
Assyria - KingsAshurbanipalSargon II
ANE Introductions
SumerBabyloniaPersia
Related Articles
* Assyria - Ancient Empire of Assyria - The Assyrians
* Library of Congress Article on Ancient Iraq
* Iraq - Historical Setting - Ancient Mesopotamia
* Assyrian Empire
* Babylonian Timelines - Chronology of Events in Ancient Babylonia
N.S. Gill
Guide since 1997
N.S. Gill
Ancient History Guide
* Sign up for my Newsletter
* My Blog
* My Forum
Sponsored Links
Ancient HouseFind Deals, Read Reviews from Real People. Get the Truth. Then Go.www.TripAdvisor.com
I am CyrusInformation on the new Book about Cyrus the Great, coming 2009.www.CyrusNovel.com
Free Mayan AstrologyAstrologer skilled in Ancient Mayan techniques offers a Free Reading!www.aboutastro.com
Empire State BuildingLive And Work In USA With An Official US Green Card.www.Usagc.org
Videos & PicturesRelax and Watch a Video! 100% Free4dh.com/Video
Advertisement
The Hittites gave up control of Ashur because it was too far away; thereby granting the Assyrians their long sought independence (c. 1400 B.C.).
The Assyrians didn't just want independence, though. They wanted control and so, under their leader Tukulti-Ninurta (c. 1233-c. 1197 B.C.), known in legend as Ninus, the Assyrians set out to conquer Babylonia. Under their ruler Tiglat-Pileser (1116-1090), the Assyrians extended their empire into Syria and Armenia. Between 883 and 824, under Ashurnazirpal II (883-859 B.C.) and Shalmeneser III (858-824 B.C.) the Assyrians conquered all of Syria and Armenia, Palestine, Babylon and southern Mesopotamia. For the sake of control, the Assyrians forced their conquered subjects into exile, including the Hebrews who were exiled to Babylon.
The Assyrians were right to be fearful of the Babylonians because, in the end, the Babylonians with help from the Medes, destroyed the Assyrian Empire and burned Ninevah.
Babylon was a problem having nothing to do with the Jewish diaspora, since it resisted Assyrian rule. Tukulti-Ninurta destroyed the city and set up an Assyrian capital at Ninevah where the last great Assyrian monarch, Ashurbanipal, later established his great library. But then, out of religious fear (because Babylon was Marduk's territory), the Assyrians rebuilt Babylon.
What happened to Ashurbanipal's great library? Because the books were clay, 30,000 fire-hardened tablets remain today providing a wealth of information on Mesopotamian culture, myth, and literature.
The Assyrians didn't just want independence, though. They wanted control and so, under their leader Tukulti-Ninurta (c. 1233-c. 1197 B.C.), known in legend as Ninus, the Assyrians set out to conquer Babylonia. Under their ruler Tiglat-Pileser (1116-1090), the Assyrians extended their empire into Syria and Armenia. Between 883 and 824, under Ashurnazirpal II (883-859 B.C.) and Shalmeneser III (858-824 B.C.) the Assyrians conquered all of Syria and Armenia, Palestine, Babylon and southern Mesopotamia. For the sake of control, the Assyrians forced their conquered subjects into exile, including the Hebrews who were exiled to Babylon.
The Assyrians were right to be fearful of the Babylonians because, in the end, the Babylonians with help from the Medes, destroyed the Assyrian Empire and burned Ninevah.
Babylon was a problem having nothing to do with the Jewish diaspora, since it resisted Assyrian rule. Tukulti-Ninurta destroyed the city and set up an Assyrian capital at Ninevah where the last great Assyrian monarch, Ashurbanipal, later established his great library. But then, out of religious fear (because Babylon was Marduk's territory), the Assyrians rebuilt Babylon.
What happened to Ashurbanipal's great library? Because the books were clay, 30,000 fire-hardened tablets remain today providing a wealth of information on Mesopotamian culture, myth, and literature.
For information on Mesopotamia, see the first of the series of Near East Introductory articles -- Sumer
For information on Hammurabi, Marduk, and Babylonia, see the second of the series of Near East Introductory articles -- Babylonia
Suggested Reading
Maps of Syria, Assyria, and Mesopotamia
Assyrian Kings
Assyria - KingsAshurbanipalSargon II
ANE Introductions
SumerBabyloniaPersia
Related Articles
* Assyria - Ancient Empire of Assyria - The Assyrians
* Library of Congress Article on Ancient Iraq
* Iraq - Historical Setting - Ancient Mesopotamia
* Assyrian Empire
* Babylonian Timelines - Chronology of Events in Ancient Babylonia
N.S. Gill
Guide since 1997
N.S. Gill
Ancient History Guide
* Sign up for my Newsletter
* My Blog
* My Forum
Sponsored Links
Ancient HouseFind Deals, Read Reviews from Real People. Get the Truth. Then Go.www.TripAdvisor.com
I am CyrusInformation on the new Book about Cyrus the Great, coming 2009.www.CyrusNovel.com
Free Mayan AstrologyAstrologer skilled in Ancient Mayan techniques offers a Free Reading!www.aboutastro.com
Empire State BuildingLive And Work In USA With An Official US Green Card.www.Usagc.org
Videos & PicturesRelax and Watch a Video! 100% Free4dh.com/Video
Advertisement
The Hittites gave up control of Ashur because it was too far away; thereby granting the Assyrians their long sought independence (c. 1400 B.C.).
The Assyrians didn't just want independence, though. They wanted control and so, under their leader Tukulti-Ninurta (c. 1233-c. 1197 B.C.), known in legend as Ninus, the Assyrians set out to conquer Babylonia. Under their ruler Tiglat-Pileser (1116-1090), the Assyrians extended their empire into Syria and Armenia. Between 883 and 824, under Ashurnazirpal II (883-859 B.C.) and Shalmeneser III (858-824 B.C.) the Assyrians conquered all of Syria and Armenia, Palestine, Babylon and southern Mesopotamia. For the sake of control, the Assyrians forced their conquered subjects into exile, including the Hebrews who were exiled to Babylon.
The Assyrians were right to be fearful of the Babylonians because, in the end, the Babylonians with help from the Medes, destroyed the Assyrian Empire and burned Ninevah.
Babylon was a problem having nothing to do with the Jewish diaspora, since it resisted Assyrian rule. Tukulti-Ninurta destroyed the city and set up an Assyrian capital at Ninevah where the last great Assyrian monarch, Ashurbanipal, later established his great library. But then, out of religious fear (because Babylon was Marduk's territory), the Assyrians rebuilt Babylon.
What happened to Ashurbanipal's great library? Because the books were clay, 30,000 fire-hardened tablets remain today providing a wealth of information on Mesopotamian culture, myth, and literature.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, September 10, 2008
at 1:33 PM
and is filed under
"Gladius" short sword
. You can follow any responses to this entry through the
comments feed
.
