The Assyrian kingdom and its history

The first empire of the Ancient World was Assyria. This state existed on the world map for almost 2,000 years - from the 24th to the 7th centuries BC, and about 609 BC. E. Ceased to exist. The first mention of Assyria was found in ancient authors, such as Herodotus, Aristotle and others. Also the Assyrian kingdom is mentioned in some books of the Bible.

Geography

The Assyrian kingdom was in the upper reaches of the Tigris and stretched from the lower course of the Lesser Zaba in the south to the Zagrass Mountains in the east and the Masios Mountains in the northwest. In different epochs of its existence it was located on the lands of such modern states as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Cyprus and Egypt.

A centuries-old history is known not only to the capital of the Assyrian kingdom:

1. Ashur (the first capital, was 250 km from modern Baghdad).
2. Ekallatum (the capital of the upper Mesopotamia, was in the middle reaches of the Tiger).
3. Nineveh (was in the territory of modern Iraq).

Historical periods of development

Since the history of the Assyrian kingdom takes too long a time period, the era of its existence is conditionally divided into three periods:

• The Old-Assyrian period - XX -XVI century BC.
• Mid-Assyrian period - XV-XI century BC.
• New Assyrian kingdom - X-VII century BC.

Each of the periods was characterized by its internal and external state policy, monarchs from different dynasties stood in power, each subsequent period began with the rise and flowering of the Assyrian statehood, the change in the geography of the kingdom and the change in foreign policy landmarks.

The Old Assyrian Period

The Assyrians came to the territory of the Euphrates River in the middle of the 20th century. BC. E., These tribes spoke in Akkadian. The first city they built was Ashur, named after its supreme deity.

During this period there was no single Assyrian state, therefore, the greatest wealthy nominee was Ashur, who was a vassal of the kingdom of Mitania and Kassite Babylonia. Nom retained some independence in the internal affairs of the settlements. Several small rural settlements, led by the elders, belonged to the Ashur basin. The city developed quickly enough due to its successful geographical location: it was through it that trade routes passed from the south, west and east.

To speak of monarchs ruling in this period is not accepted, since the rulers did not have all the political rights characteristic of the bearers of this status. This period in the history of Assyria was singled out by historians for convenience as the prehistory of the Assyrian kingdom. Before the fall of Akkad in the XXII century BC. Ashur was a part of it, and after its disappearance it became independent for a short period of time, and only in the 21st century BC. E. Was captured by Ur. Only after 200 years the power passes to the rulers - ashshurtsam, from this moment the rapid growth of trade and commodity production begins. However, this position within the state did not last long, and 100 years later, Ashur loses its importance as a central city, and one of the sons of the ruler of Shamsht-Adad becomes governor in it. Soon the city is under the rule of the king of Babylon Hammurabi, and only about 1720 BC. E. The gradual flowering of the independent Assyrian state begins.

Second period

Since the XIV century BC Assyrian rulers in official documents are already called kings. Moreover, when they turn to the pharaoh of Egypt, they say "Our brother". During this period there is an active military colonization of lands: invasion of the territory of the state of the Hittites, raids on the Babylonian kingdom, in the cities of Phenicia and Syria, and in 1290-1260. BC. E. The territorial formation of the Assyrian empire is over.

A new upsurge in the Assyrians' wars of conquest began under King Tiglathpalasar, who was able to capture northern Syria, Phenicia, and part of Asia Minor. Moreover, the tsar went several times on ships to the Mediterranean to show his superiority over Egypt. After the death of the monarch-conqueror in the state, decline begins, and all subsequent kings can no longer preserve the previously occupied lands. The Assyrian kingdom was pushed to its native lands. Documents of the period XI-X centuries BC. E. Not preserved, which indicates a decline.

The New Assyrian kingdom

A new stage in the development of Assyria began after the Assyrians managed to get rid of the Aramaic tribes that came to their territory. It is the state created in this period that is considered to be the first empire in the history of mankind. The protracted crisis of the Assyrian kingdom was stopped by the kings Adad-Nirari II and Adid-Nirari III (it is with his mother Semiramis that the existence of one of the seven wonders of the world - the Hanging Gardens) is associated. Unfortunately, the next three tsars could not resist the attacks of the external enemy - the kingdom of Urartu, and conducted an illiterate internal policy, which significantly weakened the state.

Assyria under Tiglapalasar III

The real ascent of the kingdom began in the era of King Tiglapalasar III. Being in power in 745-727 years. BC. E., he was able to seize the lands of Phenicia, Palestine, Syria, the Damascus kingdom, it was during his reign that a long military conflict was resolved with the state of Urartu.

Good luck in foreign policy is conditioned by the conduct of internal political reforms. Thus, the tsar began to forcibly relocate residents from the occupied states, together with families and property, to his land, which led to the spread of the Aramaic language throughout the whole of Assyria. The king solved the problem of separatism within the country, dividing the large areas into many small ones led by the governors, thus preventing the emergence of new dynasties. Also, the tsar took up the reform of the army: an army consisting of militias and military colonists was reorganized into a professional regular army, which received salaries from the treasury, new types of troops were introduced - regular cavalry and sappers, special attention was paid to the organization of intelligence and communication services.

Successful military campaigns allowed Tiglatpalasar to create an empire stretching from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean, and even to be crowned as the king of Babylon - Pula.

Urartu - the kingdom (Transcaucasia), which invaded the Assyrian rulers

The kingdom of Urartu was located on the territory of the Armenian Highlands and occupied the territory of modern Armenia, eastern Turkey, northwestern Iran and the Nakhchivan Azerbaijan Republic. The heyday of the state was at the end of the 9th - the middle of the 8th century BC, the wars with the Assyrian kingdom contributed to the decline of Urartu.

After receiving the throne after his father's death, King Tiglathpalasar III sought to restore his state control over the Asia Minor trade routes. In 735 BC. E. In the decisive battle on the west bank of the Euphrates, the Assyrians were able to defeat the army of Urartu and advance deep into the kingdom. Monarch Urartu Sarduri fled and soon died, the state was in a sorry state. His heir, Rus I, was able to establish a temporary truce with Assyria, which was soon broken by the Assyrian king Sargon II.

Taking advantage of the fact that Urartu was weakened by the defeat received from the tribes of the Cimmerians, Sargon II in 714 BC. E. Destroyed Urartian army, and, thus, Urartu and its dependent kingdoms were under the rule of Assyria. After these events, Urartu lost its importance on the world stage.

The policy of the last Assyrian kings

Heir to Tiglathpalasar III could not hold in his hands the empire established by his predecessor, and over time Babylon declared his independence. The next king, Sargon II, in his foreign policy was not limited to owning only the kingdom of Urartu, he was able to return Babylon under the control of Assyria and was crowned as the Babylonian king, and he was able to suppress all the uprisings that are emerging on the territory of the empire.

The reign of Sinakhherib (705-680 BC) was characterized by constant confrontation of the king with priests and townspeople. During his reign, the former king of Babylon again tried to restore his power, this led to the fact that Sinakhherib severely dealt with the Babylonians and completely destroyed Babylon. Dissatisfaction with the policy of the tsar led to a weakening of the state and, as a result, outbreaks of uprisings, some states regained their independence, and Urartu regained a number of territories. Such a policy led to the killing of the king.

After gaining power, the heir of the murdered king Asarhaddon first took up the restoration of Babylon and the establishment of relations with the priests. As for foreign policy, the tsar managed to repel the Cimmerians' invasion, suppress the anti-Assyrian uprisings in Phenicia and make a successful trip to Egypt, which resulted in the capture of Memphis and the ascent to Egypt's throne, but the tsar did not manage to keep this victory because of unexpected death.

The last king of Assyria

The last strong king of Assyria was Ashurbanipal, known as the most competent ruler of the Assyrian state. It was he who in his palace gathered a unique library of clay tablets. The time of his reign was characterized by constant struggle with the vassal states, who wish to regain their independence. Assyria during this period fought with the kingdom of Elam, which led to the complete defeat of the latter. Egypt and Babylon wanted to regain their independence, but as a result of the numerous conflicts they failed. Ashurbanipal succeeded in spreading his influence over Lydia, Media, Phrygia, and defeating Thebes.

The destruction of the Assyrian kingdom

The death of Ashurbanipal laid the foundation for trouble. Assyria was defeated by the Median kingdom, Babylon gained independence. The combined forces of the Medes and their allies in 612 BC. E. The main city of the Assyrian kingdom, Nineveh, was destroyed. In the year 605 BC. E. Under Carchemish the Babylonian heir, Nebuchadnezzar, defeated the last military units of Assyria, thus the Assyrian empire was destroyed.

The historical significance of Assyria

The ancient Assyrian kingdom left behind a multitude of cultural and historical monuments. Until now, many bas-reliefs have survived with scenes from the life of kings and nobles, six-meter sculptures of winged gods, many ceramics and jewelry.

A great contribution to the development of knowledge about the Ancient World was made by a library with thirty thousand clay tablets of King Ashurbanipal, where knowledge of medicine, astronomy, and engineering was collected, and even the Great Flood was mentioned.

At a high level of development was engineering - the Assyrians were able to build a canal and aqueduct with a width of 13 meters and a length of 3 thousand meters.

The Assyrians were able to create one of the strongest armies of their time, they were armed with chariots, rams, spears, in combat soldiers used trained dogs, the army was well equipped.

After the fall of Assyria, Babylon became the heir of centuries-old achievements.