1. Assyria Dominates the Fertile Crescent
The Assyrians developed a military machine, conquered an empire, and established imperial administration

2. A Mighty Military Machine
The Assyrians came from northern Mesopotamia where the terrain is very flat and exposed. As a result, the Assyrians survived by becoming a people well skilled in warfare.

3. Military Organization and Conquest
Assyrian culture glorified military strength.
The Assyrian soldiers were well equipped with iron-pointed spears, arrows and swords.
They protected themselves with copper and iron helmets, leather and metal armor with layered metal scales.

5. Assyrian Military Power
The Assyrians used ballistas to launch arrows over long distances.
They used portable pontoon bridges to cross streams and rivers.

6. The used chariots to attack rapidly.
They would lay siege to cities and throw their ladders up against the city walls and climb into the enemy’s stronghold.

7. Tear Down the Walls
The Assyrian soldiers would dig tunnels under city walls to undermine the foundations.
They developed mobile siege towers and battering rams to weaken city walls.

8. Cruelty and Fear Tactics
Once they conquered a city, they treated the people with cruelty. Those who were not killed in the initial attack were often impaled or beheaded. Women and children were sold into slavery.

9. An Expanding Empire
From 850 – 650 BC, the Assyrians defeated Syria, Palestine, and Babylonia. Their control reached west to Anatolia.

10. Administration of the Empire
The Assyrians ruled over a vast empire collecting taxes and tribute from the conquered people.
King Sennacherib burned the city of Babylon and established his new capital- Nineveh. It was in Nineveh where the vast library over over 25,000 clay tablets containing the writing of the many ancient cultures, were stored in a library.

11. The Empire Crumbles
The Assyrians made a lot of enemies as a result of their military conquests and horrible treatment of people.
In 612 BC, the Medes and Chaldeans united and attacked the Assyrian capital. Their armies burned Nineveh to the ground. This fire actually preserved the clay tablets that had been stored in the library.

12. The Rebirth of Babylon
After the defeat of the Assyrians, the Chaldeans rebuilt Babylon.
It is at this time that king Nebuchadnezzar built the hanging gardens, one of the wonders of the ancient world.