Sec. 4.2 - The Assyrian Empire Mr. Marijanovich Crestwood High School World History A
Sec. 4.2 Objectives Analyze the sources of Assyrian military strength. Evaluate Assyrian achievements. Trace the Assyrian decline.
The Assyrian Empire
The Assyrian Empire The Assyrian Empire was know as a Mighty Military Machine. By 850 B.C., Assyria acquired a large empire based on its advanced military organization and state-of-the-art weaponry. Originally from Mesopotamia. Created empire from east and north of the Tigris all the way to central Egypt.
The Assyrian Empire Sennacherib- Assyrian king that bragged about destroying 89 cities & 820 villages!!! Military Organization: Superior Iron Working Soldiers covered in leather and metal armor. Copper and Iron helmets Leather skirts with metal scales Iron weapons Iron pointed spears Engineering: Pontoons/Floating structures to pass water blockages- They made their own bridges Foot soldiers marched shoulder to shoulder Tons of arrows!!! Iron-tipped battering rams!
The Assyrian Empire When the Assyrians won, they showed no mercy! Enslaved their enemies. Forced surviving enemies to move far away! Peak of Assyrian rule around 650 B.C. Assyrians kings controlled lands by choosing their rulers or by supporting other kings that would support Assyrian Empire.
Review Break!!! Stand up if true, throw up a ‘thumbs down’ if false. The Assyrians were originally from the Indus Valley, then traveled West towards Anatolia FALSE!!! …. Originally from Mesopotamia The Assyrians were very proud of destroying the villages they encountered TRUE!!! The Assyrians were known for having great iron weapons and for being very wise with their engineering! The Assyrians were very nice to the soldiers they captured in war FALSE!!! …. They enslaved their POW’s
The Empire Expands Nineveh: Capital of Assyrian Empire, located along the Tigris River. Walled city, 3 miles long and a mile wide Largest city of its time King Ashurbanipal: created one of the world’s largest libraries in Nineveh. 20,000 clay tablets Features of a modern library Organized by subject matter and catalogued Last of the mighty Assyrian Kings!!! Power spread too thin
The Empire Crumbles 612 B.C. combined army of Medes and Chaldeans destroy the capital, Nineveh. After defeating Assyrians, Chaldeans make Babylon their capital. 600 B.C- Babylon is the center of a new empire (1000 years after Hammurabi) Chaldean King Nebuchadnezzar restores Babylon.
Nebuchadnezzar Famous hanging gardens Known as the 7 wonders of the world Thick walls- A four horse chariot could ride around the walls surrounding Babylon Chaldean’s astronomers formed basis for astronomy and astrology!!! Empire fell shortly after his death- Persian empire take power using Assyrian organization