ASSYRIAN DOMINATION

Military Machine  Assyria acquired a large empire  Sophisticated military organization and state-of-the-art weaponry  Greatest power in S.W. Asia  Developed warlike behavior in response to invasions  Developed a strong army

Organization and Conquest  Had glorified military strength  Iron-working technology  Stiff leather and metal armor  Used iron swords and spears  Infantry, archers, spear throwers  Protected by large shields  Used pontoons to cross rivers (animal skins)  Would dig under walls to weaken them  Calvary plus foot soldiers would attack  Shower of arrows while other soldiers used battering rams to knock down fortification  No mercy; received bounty for heads

Expanding Empire  Defeated Syria, Palestine, and Babylonia  Extended rule into Egypt and Anatolia  Organized conquered territory into an empire  Kings chose rulers for each separate region  Military campaigns added new territory often  Brought more taxes and tribute  Refusal to pay = cities burned and people sent into exile

Culture  Military rulers also known as great Builders  Nineveh was established  Largest city of its day (3 miles long, 1 mile wide) 2 sculptures found – brutal military campaigns, the lion hunt Held one of the largest libraries for it’s day

End to the Empire  Assyrian power spread itself too thin  Cruelty led to many enemies  Nineveh falls Destroyed by army of Mede and Chaldeans people Burned and leveled the city

Rebirth of Babylon  Chaldeans made Babylon their capital  Restored by Nebuchadnezzar  Many famous hanging gardens  1 of seven wonders of the world  Empire fell shortly after Nebuchadnezzar  Persians came to power next  Adopted many Assyrian military, political, and artistic inventions