1) HOW WERE THE ASSYRIANS ABLE TO CREATE A VAST EMPIRE? AIM: 1) HOW WERE THE ASSYRIANS ABLE TO CREATE A VAST EMPIRE? 2)WHAT LED TO THE EMPIRE’S QUICK DECLINE? Do Now: What makes a military force powerful?

I. The Assyrians: Master Fighters From northern Mesopotamia. A fierce and warlike people - glorified military strength. Well-equipped soldiers: used metal armor and IRON WEAPONS including shields and spears. They were expert in battle: foot soldiers, archers, and charioteers would attack in formations. Assyrians were experts at attacking walled cities and entering them.

G. Assyrians were MERCILESS – they would kill or enslave their victims, and then force captives to move far away (EXILE). To what extent does this depiction of an Assyrian king and his advisor reflect Egyptian values and styles?

H. At its peak around 650 BCE, the Assyrian Empire included almost all of the old centers of civilization and power in Southwest Asia.

Great Walled City Nineveh – Was the capital city – along the Tigris River A) 3 miles long and 1 mile wide – Largest city of its day B) Ancient worlds largest libraries King Ashurbanipal – collected over 20,000 clay tablets. Look at the next 5 slides write down your observations about what the Assayrians focused their art on

II. Running the Empire Assyrian officials governed lands closest to Assyria as provinces and made them dependent territories. Assyrian kings controlled these dependent regions by choosing their rulers. The Assyrian system of having local governors report to a central authority became the fundamental model of administration, or system of government management.

The military campaigns added new territory The military campaigns added new territory to the empire which brought new taxes. TRIBUTE (protection money) – conquered nations had to pay or city would be destroyed and they would be sent into exile

III. The End of the Empire By 600 BCE, the Assyrian Empire had spread itself too thin. In addition, the cruelty that the Assyrians had displayed toward captives and the people they ruled earned them many enemies. In 612 BCE, soldiers from Babylon conquered the Assyrian capital and burned it. Babylon became a new empire – 1000 years after Hammurabi had ruled it. New Babylonian Empire had engineering marvels and many luxuries.

IV. A New Babylonian Empire Arises About 600 BCE, the people who conquered the Assyrians made BABYLON in Mesopotamia the capital of their new empire. King Nebuchadnezzar promoted architecture and learning. Nebuchadnezzar fortified the city with thick walls. 300-foot-tall ziggurat was the center of the city. Empire crumbled shortly after Nebuchadnezzar died and was conquered by PERSIA.

Primary Source “And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: Who will bemoan her? Whence shall I seek comforters for thee?...Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: Thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.” Nahum 3:7, 18 (Bible) How does this passage reflect the feelings Jews had towards the Assarians?

6-7th Century B.C.E.

Final Assessment Do you think the Assyrians reliance on military power was a good strategy in the long run? Why or why not?