Assyrians
MIDDLE EASTERN EMPIRE
Introduction
 Created large Southwest Asian Empire
 Used organized military
Location
 Northern Mesopotamia
 Flat unprotected plains
Effects of Geography
 Open to Invasion
 Developed strong military for protection
Empire
 Between 850-650 BC conquered large empire
Expanding the Empire
 Fertile Crescent
 Parts of Anatolia Peninsula
 Parts of Egypt and Africa
Military
 Glorified Military strength
 Soldiers were well prepared for conquering
Military Equipment
 Leather and Metal
 Armor, Helmets, Skirts
 Iron Weapons
Weapons
Siege Warfare
 Surrounding a city in an attempt to conquer/starve
the people of the city
Military Technology
 Bridging
 Digging beneath wall
 Bow and arrow
 Battering ram
Treatment of Conquered
 Killed
 Enslaved
 Beheaded
 Exiled or Deported
Purpose of Treatment
 To prevent rebellion
 Scare enemy with reputation
Peak of Power
 Around 650 BC, they controlled almost all of
Southwest Asia and Egypt
Major Cities in Fertile Crescent
 Aleppo
 Jericho
Political
 Divided into provinces
(dependent territories)
 Rulers of each
provinces chosen by
king
 Called Governors
Effect of Provinces
 More taxes
Assyrian Culture
 Known as Great Builders
 Nineveh-Assyria’s Capital
 Art
Art
Libraries
 Nineveh had one of the ancient worlds largest
libraries
 Contained Several Languages
 Allowed better understanding of writing
Fall of Empire
 Reasons
 Too much territory
 Excessive cruelty
 612 BC-Nineveh destroyed by Medes and Chaldeans
Chaldeans
 The Chaldeans took over
 Babylon Became Capital (Center of New Empire)
Nebuchadnezzar
 Rebuilt Babylon
 Hanging Gardens
Hanging Gardens
Walls
Decline
 Fell after Nebuchadnezzar’s Death
 Conquered by Persian Empire