Transcript The Assyrians - adamson-NLU-authentic

The Assyrians
By:
Nick J. Ambrose
Kyle J. Costigan
Nick A. Hirsch
Derek R. Olson
The Beginning
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City of Nineveh discovered in 1932 by Sir Max
Mallowan of Britain
Artifacts show that site was settled by 5000
B.C.E.
2 other great Assyrian cities settled very soon
after: Ashur and Arbel
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Arbel was one of the earliest permanent agricultural
settlements due to it’s rich corn fields
By 2500 B.C.E. these three cities, Nineveh, Ashur
and Arbel, were all thriving metropoli
The Beginning
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By 2400 B.C.E. idea of complex societies
had spread from the Sumerians to other
parts of Mesopotamia, including Assyria
One of the only civilizations that built walls
around its settlements, which implies the
risk of outside attacks and the need for
warfare
Lived in the northern reaches of
Mesopotamia
The Great Age (900-610 B.C.E.)
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900 B.C.E. were the most feared people in
the region
725 B.C.E. Assyrians captured Israel and
deport Israelite nation to Mesopotamia
710 B.C.E. Sargon II moves the Assyrian
capital to Dur Sharrukin
689 B.C.E. Sennacherib sacks Babylon
and carries riches off to Ninevah
Great Age to Fall of Assyrian Empire
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665 B.C.E. capture and destroy Thebes,
capital of Ancient Egypt
639 B.C.E. Assyrian kingdom reaches
greatest extent with the capture of Susa
612 B.C.E. Assyrian army defeated by
Medes and Babylonians joint effort
610 B.C.E. Fall of the city of Harran final
collapse of Assyria
Religion
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Ashurism was first religion
Worshipped Ashur, The Creator of Universe
Kings were high priests
Believed that army belonged to the Ashur and all
those who did not submit were enemies
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Reason for rapid expansion
Tolerant of other gods as long as Ashur reigned
supreme
Religious Temple
Politics
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Code of the Assura
Government made up of a single king
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Many of the monarchs were fierce leaders
Assyrian Empire regarded as the first real
Empire in human history
As the empire grew, it was divided into local
regions, governed by local rulers
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Required to pay taxes and supply soldiers for the
Army
Assyrian High Priest, Assyrian King
Bruitality
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Ancient Assyrians
blinding their captives.
Assyrian artistic
portrayals are full
with images of
captives and
opponents being
skinned alive, blinded,
impaled, and their
limbs, ears, etc.
Daily Life
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Assyrian cities were contained within massive
walls
The population was schooled in the psychology
of war
The cities contained the palace complexes, as
well as temples and housing for the common
people
Basic Assyrian homes were typically single
stories with flat roofs, and made of mud brick
Ancient Assyrian City
Social Achievements
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Neo-Assyrian cuneiform is the final stage of
cuneiform writing
Preserved some 30,000 ancient works of
Mesopotamian culture, myth, and literature
Turned the Middle East into a melting pot
due to mass deportations
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Melted diverse religions, cultures, and languages
Nimurd Lens
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Piece of rock crystal
unearthed in 1850
from the Nimrud
palace complex
Believed by many as
a part of an ancient
telescope
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Could explain
accuracy of Assyrian
astronomy
Role Of Women
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Women could act
independently, buy
and sell houses, act as
a guardian for another
person.
They could also
become involved in
court cases.
Much like Babylonians