Babylon and Assyria The Religion of the Ancient Sumerians Along with Egypt, the lower reaches of two large rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, became the birthplace of another ancient civilization. This area was called Mesopotamia (Greek Mesopotamia), or Mesopotamia. Conditions historical development peoples

Assyria – ancient state in the Northern Mesopotamia (on the territory of modern Iraq). The Assyrian Empire existed for almost two thousand years, starting from the 24th century BC. and until its destruction in the 7th century BC. (about 609 BC) Media and Babylonia.
Created by the Assyrian My state with its capital in the city of Nineveh (a suburb of the present city of Mossul) existed from the beginning of the 2nd millennium until about 612 BC, when Nineveh was destroyed by the united armies of Media and Babylonia.

major cities there were also Ashur, Kalah, and Dush-Sharrukin ("Sargon's Palace").The kings of Assyria concentrated almost all power in their hands - they simultaneously held the position of high priest and military leader, and for some time even treasurer. The royal advisers were privileged military leaders (managers of the provinces, who necessarily served in the army and paid tribute to the king). Farming was done by slaves and dependent workers.

Assyria reached the summit creatures during the reign of the Sargonid dynasty (late 7th-7th centuries BC). Sargon II, the founder of a new dynasty, seized the kingdom of Israel and resettled its inhabitants, destroyed the Hittite fortresses and pushed the boundaries of the kingdom to Egypt. His son Sinnacherib is remembered for the fact that after the uprising in Babylon (689 BC) he razed this city to the ground. He chose Nineveh as his capital, rebuilding it with the greatest pomp. The territory of the city was significantly enlarged and surrounded by powerful fortifications, a new palace was built, and temples were renovated. To supply the city and the gardens around it with good water, an aqueduct 10 m high was built.

The Assyrians began aggressive military campaigns in the second half of the 8th century BC. e., resulting in the formation of a huge empire. The Assyrians captured all of Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Cyprus, the territories of modern Turkey and Syria, as well as Egypt (which, however, they lost 15 years later). On the conquered lands, they formed provinces, imposing an annual tribute on them, and the most skilled artisans were resettled in Assyrian cities (this is probably why the influence of the cultures of the surrounding peoples is noticeable in the art of Assyria). The Assyrians ruled their empire very harshly, deporting or executing all rebels.

There are three periods in the history of Assyria:
Old Assyrian (XX-XVI centuries BC)
Middle Assyrian (XV-XI centuries BC)
Neo-Assyrian (X-VII centuries BC)

Old Assyrian period

The deterioration of the climate in the Arabian Peninsula in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC caused the migration of Semitic tribes from there to the middle reaches of the Euphrates and further to the north and east. The northern group of these Semitic settlers were the Assyrians, closely related in origin and language to the tribes that settled in that part of Mesopotamia where the Euphrates approaches the Tigris and were called Akkadians. The Assyrians spoke a northern dialect of the Akkadian language.
The first city built by the Assyrians (probably on the site of a Subarean settlement) - they called Ashur, after their supreme god Ashur.

Cities that later formed the core of the Assyrian state (Nineveh, Ashur, Arbela, etc.), until the 15th century BC. e. At first, Ashur was the center of a relatively small, nome, predominantly trading state, in which merchants played a leading role. Assyrian state until the 16th century BC. e. was called "alum Ashur", that is, the people or community of Ashur. Using the proximity of their city to the most important trade routes, the merchants and usurers of Ashur penetrated into Asia Minor and founded their trading colonies there, the most important of which is the city of Kanish.
From the 3rd millennium BC - Nome state Ashur on the middle Tigris.
In the 21st century BC. - was part of the power of the III dynasty of Ur.
Around 1970 BC - power passes to the native Asshhurians.
Around 1720 BC - A ruler from the family of the Amorite leader Shamshi-Adad restores independence.

Middle Assyrian period

In the XIV-IX centuries BC. Assyria repeatedly subjugated all of Northern Mesopotamia and the surrounding areas.
Mid 15th century BC e. - dependence on Mitanni.
Ashur-uballit I (1353-1318 BC) - the beginning of the formation of the empire.
Adad-nirari I (1295-1264 BC) - completed the formation of the empire.
Second half of the 14th-13th centuries BC. - wars with the Hittites and Babylonians.
12th century BC e. - a period of decline in the fight against the Balkan tribes of the Mushki.
Tiglath-pileser I (1114-1076 BC) - a new rise.

Around 1000 BC. e. - intervention of nomadic Aramaeans, another decline. After the death of Tiglath-pileser I, the Assyrians not only failed to gain a foothold to the west of the Euphrates, but even to defend the territory to the east of it. The attempts of subsequent Assyrian kings to conclude an alliance with the kings of Babylonia against the ubiquitous Aramaeans also did not bring any benefit. Assyria was thrown back to its indigenous lands, and its economic and political life fell into complete decline. From the end of the XI to the end of the X centuries. BC e. almost no documents or inscriptions have survived from Assyria to our time.

Neo-Assyrian period

Neo-Assyrian kingdom. A new period in the history of Assyria began only after she managed to recover from the Aramaic invasion. The period of the highest power of Assyria - VIII-VII century BC. The new Assyrian Empire (750–620 BC) is considered the first empire in human history.

Adad-nirari II (911-891 BC) - brought the country out of the crisis, subsequent rulers were mostly conquerors.
Adad-nirari III (810-783 BC) - initially ruled under the care of his mother Shammuramat.
First half of the 8th century BC. - loss of possessions under the blows of Urartu.
Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 BC) - a new rise of Assyria, the defeat of Urartu.
Shalmaneser V (c. 727 - 722 BC) - the conquest of the kingdom of Israel.
671 BC e. - Assarhaddon (680-669 BC) - the conquest of Egypt.
Ashurbanipal (668-627 BC) - the expansion of the power of Assyria to Lydia, Phrygia, Media, the defeat of Thebes.
630s BC. - an attack by the Medes, who had previously been in an alliance.
609 BC - the last territory - Harran in the west of Upper Mesopotamia - was conquered by Babylonia.

Assyrian army

During the reign of Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 BC) it was reorganized. The Assyrian army, formerly consisting of warriors who had land allotments. Since then, the basis of the army consisted of impoverished farmers, armed at the expense of the state. Thus arose a permanent army, called the "royal detachment", which included prisoners. There was also a special detachment of warriors guarding the king. The number of permanent troops increased so much that Tiglath-Palassar carried out some campaigns without resorting to tribal militias.
In the Assyrian army, monotonous weapons were introduced. The soldiers used bows with metal tips on arrows, slings, a short spear with a bronze tip, a sword, a dagger, and iron clubs. The protective armament was also improved: the helmet had a suspension that covered the back of the head and the sides of the head; the warriors conducting siege work were dressed in solid long shells made of fiber sheathed with oblong bronze plates; the shields of the Assyrian warriors were diverse both in shape and material, and in purpose - from light round and quadrangular to high rectangular ones with a canopy that protected the warrior from above. The warrior carried a bronze pickaxe on a long wooden handle, which was used in laying roads, constructing defensive structures, destroying conquered fortresses, which were usually destroyed to the ground, as well as an iron axe. Stocks of weapons and equipment were stored in the royal arsenals.

Kisir was considered the main army. Kisir was divided into fifties, which were subdivided into tens. Several kishirs made up an emuku (strength).
The Assyrian infantry was divided into heavy and light. Heavy infantry were armed with spears, swords and had protective weapons - armor, helmets and large shields. The light infantry consisted of archers and slingers. The combat unit usually consisted of two warriors: an archer and a shield bearer.
Along with this, there were also combat units, consisting only of heavily armed warriors. The Assyrian infantry operated in close formation of archers, fighting under the cover of heavy infantrymen with shields. The infantrymen threw arrows, darts and stones at the enemy.
An important part of the Assyrian army were war chariots, which began to be used from 1100 BC. e. Two or four horses were harnessed to them, and a quiver with arrows was attached to the body. Its crew consisted of two warriors - an archer and a charioteer, armed with a spear and a shield. Sometimes the crew was reinforced by two shield-bearers who covered the archer and the charioteer. War chariots were used on level ground and were a reliable means of action against irregular troops.
In addition, the beginnings of completely new types of troops appeared in the Assyrian army - cavalry and "engineering" troops. Riders in large numbers first appeared in the Assyrian army in the 9th century BC. e. At first, the rider sat on a bare horse, and then a high saddle without stirrups was invented. The horsemen fought in pairs: one was armed with a bow, the other with a spear and a shield. Horsemen were sometimes armed with swords and maces. However, the Assyrian cavalry was still irregular and did not displace the war chariots.
To carry out various kinds of digging, road, bridge and other works, the Assyrian army had special detachments, which laid the foundation for the development of engineering troops. The troops were armed with rams and catapults for the destruction of fortress walls, siege towers and assault ladders, as well as crossing facilities - wineskins (individual soldiers crossed rivers on them, rafts and floating bridges were made from them). Phoenician craftsmen built for Assyria warships type of galleys with a sharp nose for ramming enemy ships. Rowers in them were located in two tiers. Ships were built on the Tigris and Euphrates and descended into the Persian Gulf.

Alphabet Library of Ashurbanipal

Army. Attitude towards conquered peoples. The Assyrian army was divided into cavalry, which, in turn, was divided into chariot and simple cavalry, and into infantry - lightly armed and heavily armed. Assyrians in more late period of its history, unlike many states of that time, under the influence of Indo-European peoples - for example, the Scythians, famous for their cavalry (it is known that the Scythians were in the service of the Assyrians, and their union was sealed by marriage between the daughter of the Assyrian king Esarhaddon and the Scythian king Bartatua) , began to widely use simple cavalry, which made it possible to successfully pursue the retreating enemy. Due to the presence of metal in Assyria, the Assyrian heavily armed warrior was relatively well protected and armed. In addition to these military branches, for the first time in history, auxiliary engineering troops (recruited mainly from slaves) were used in the Assyrian army, who were engaged in laying roads, building pontoon bridges and camps-fortresses. The Assyrian army was one of the first (and perhaps the very first) to use various siege weapons, such as a battering ram and a special device, somewhat reminiscent of an ox-vein ballista, which fired stones weighing up to 10 kg at a besieged city at a distance of 500-600 m. The kings and generals of Assyria were familiar with frontal and flank attacks and a combination of these attacks. The system of espionage and intelligence was also quite well established in countries where military operations were planned or there was a danger to Assyria. Finally, a warning system, like signal beacons, was quite widely used. The Assyrian army tried to act unexpectedly and quickly, not giving the enemy the opportunity to come to their senses, often making sudden night raids on the enemy camp. When necessary, the Assyrian army resorted to "starvation" tactics, destroying wells, blocking roads, and so on. All this made the Assyrian army strong and invincible. In order to weaken and keep the conquered peoples in greater submission, the Assyrians practiced the resettlement of the conquered peoples to other, uncharacteristic for them. economic activity regions of the Assyrian Empire. For example, sedentary agricultural peoples were resettled in deserts and steppes suitable only for nomads. So, after the capture of the state of Israel by the Assyrian king Sargono II, 27,000 thousand Israelis were resettled in Assyria and Media, and Babylonians, Syrians and Arabs settled in Israel itself, who later became known as the Samaritans and entered the New Testament parable of the “good Samaritan”. It should also be noted that in their cruelty the Assyrians surpassed all other peoples and civilizations of that time, which also did not differ in particular humanity. The most sophisticated tortures and executions on a defeated enemy were considered normal for the Assyrians. One of the reliefs shows how the Assyrian king feasts in the garden with his wife and enjoys not only the sounds of harps and tympans, but also a bloody spectacle: the severed head of one of his enemies hangs on a tree. Such cruelty served to intimidate enemies, and also partly had religious and ritual functions.

Political system. Population. Family Initially, the city-state of Ashur (the core of the future Assyrian Empire) was an oligarchic slave-owning republic, governed by a council of elders, which changed every year and was recruited from the most prosperous inhabitants of the city. The tsar's share in the administration of the country was small and was limited to the role of commander in chief of the army. However, gradually the royal power is strengthened. The transfer of the capital from Ashur for no apparent reason to the opposite bank of the Tigris by the Assyrian king Tukulti-Ninurt I (1244–1208 BC) apparently testifies to the king’s desire to break with the Ashur council, which became only the council of the city. The main basis of the Assyrian states were rural communities that were the owners of the land fund. The fund was divided into plots owned by individual families. Gradually, as successful conquests and accumulation of wealth, rich communal slave-owners stand out, and their poor fellows in the community fall into debt slavery to them. So, for example, the debtor was obliged to provide a wealthy creditor neighbor with a certain number of reapers in return for paying interest on the loan amount. Also, a very common way to get into debt slavery was to give the debtor into temporary slavery to the creditor as collateral. Noble and wealthy Assyrians did not perform any duties in favor of the state. The differences between the rich and poor inhabitants of Assyria were shown by clothing, or rather, the quality of the material and the length of the “candi” - a short-sleeved shirt that was widespread in the ancient Near East. The more noble and richer a person was, the longer his candi was. In addition, all ancient Assyrians grew thick long beards, considered a sign of morality, and carefully looked after them. Only eunuchs did not wear beards. The so-called "Middle Assyrian laws" have come down to us, regulating various aspects Everyday life ancient Assyria and being, along with the laws of Hammurabi, the oldest legal monuments. In ancient Assyria there was a patriarchal family. The power of the father over the children differed little from the power of the master over the slaves. Children and slaves alike were counted among the property from which the creditor could take compensation for the debt. The position of the wife also differed little from that of a slave, since a wife was acquired by purchase. The husband had a legally justified right to use violence against his wife. After the death of her husband, the wife went to the relatives of the latter. It is also worth noting that the external sign of a free woman was wearing a veil that covered her face. This tradition was subsequently adopted by the Muslims.

Assyrians (Arm. 됬րիներ, self-names - aturai, surai, there are also the names of Aysors, Suriani, Chaldeans, Syro-Chaldeans, Syrians, Armenian Ասորիներ, Georgian ასურელები) - a people originating from the ancient population of Asia Minor. The origin is traced to the inhabitants of the Assyrian Empire. The immediate ancestors of the modern Assyrians are the Aramaic-speaking inhabitants of Mesopotamia, who adopted Christianity in the 4th century.
Modern Assyrians speak the northeastern New Aramaic languages, which are part of the Semitic family. In the places of their original residence, almost all Assyrians were two-, three-, and sometimes four-lingual, in addition to their own mother tongue environment languages ​​- Arabic, Persian and / or Turkish. In the diaspora, where most Assyrians are now, many have switched to the languages ​​of the new surrounding population. In the second or third generation, many Assyrians no longer know their ethnic language, leaving many New Aramaic languages ​​in danger of extinction.
Assyrians live in Iran, Northern Iraq, Syria, Turkey. There are also Assyrian communities in Lebanon, Russia, Ukraine, USA, Sweden, Georgia, Armenia, Germany, Great Britain and other countries. There are no reliable data on the number of Assyrians. The total number, according to different sources ranges from 350 thousand to 4 million people.

The territories of modern Turkey and Syria, as well as Egypt (which, however, was lost 15 years later). On the conquered lands, they formed provinces, imposing an annual tribute on them, and the most skilled artisans were resettled in Assyrian cities (this is probably why the influence of the cultures of the surrounding peoples is noticeable in the art of Assyria). The Assyrians ruled their empire very harshly, deporting or executing all rebels.

Assyria reached the pinnacle of its power in the third quarter of the 8th century BC. e. during the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 BC). His son Sargon II defeated Urartu, captured the Northern Israel kingdom and pushed the boundaries of the kingdom to Egypt. His son Sennacherib after the rebellion in Babylon (689 BC) razed this city to the ground. He chose Nineveh as his capital, rebuilding it with the greatest pomp. The territory of the city was significantly enlarged and surrounded by powerful fortifications, a new palace was built, and temples were renovated. To supply the city and the gardens around it with good water, an aqueduct 10 m high was built.

The state created by the Assyrians with its capital in the city of Nineveh (a suburb of the present city of Mosul) existed from the beginning of the 2nd millennium until about 612 BC. e., when Nineveh was destroyed by the combined forces of Media and Babylonia. Ashur, Kalah, and Dur-Sharrukin ("Sargon's Palace") were also major cities. The kings of Assyria concentrated almost all power in their hands - they simultaneously held the position of high priest and military leader, and for some time even treasurer. The royal advisers were privileged military leaders (managers of the provinces, who necessarily served in the army and paid tribute to the king). Farming was done by slaves and dependent workers.

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Chronology

There are three periods in the history of Assyria:

• Old Assyrian[remove template](c. 2600-1392 BC), sometimes two periods are distinguished:
  • early Assyrian (English) Russian (c. 2600-2000 BC) until the end of Ur's reign over Ashur;
  • Old Assyrian(c. 2000-1392 BC) starting from the Puzur-Ashur I dynasty as a kingdom (empire), which is not true, Ashur was preserved as a nome state;
• Middle Assyrian (English) Russian (1392-935 BC);
• Neo-Assyrian(935-605 BC).

Old Assyrian period

XXIV-XXI centuries BC. e.

Ashur undoubtedly belonged to the kingdom of Akkad (XXIV-XXII centuries BC), although it had a very secondary importance within this state. After the fall of Akkad, a short period of independence probably began, for Assur was cut off from the centers of Mesopotamia conquered by the Gutians, although it was probably destroyed by them. Then, in the XXI century BC. e. was part of the power of the III dynasty Ur (“Kingdom of Sumer and Akkad”), the inscription of the governor of Zarikum, dated this century, has been preserved, “ servant of the king of Ur". Obviously it is Ashur who is mentioned as shashrum in the chronicles of this dynasty - " The Year Shulgi Destroyed the Shashrum», « Year in which King Amar-Suen destroyed Shashrum for the second time and Shurudhum”, for the first time under 2052 BC. e. in connection with the conquest, in the second under 2040 BC. e. because of the uprising. Around 2034 B.C. e. the invasion of the Amorites through the Middle Mesopotamia begins, Shu-Suen builds a wall against them along the edge of the "gypsum" desert from the Euphrates to the Tigris, the exact date of the loss of his control over Ashur is unknown (one of the dignitaries of Shu-Suen retains control over Arbela). Ashur, bypassed then by the Amorites, could be freed already under Ibbi-Suen. The city could have been occupied for some time by the Hurrians, the ruler of Ushpiya could refer to this time (the end of the 21st century BC) or earlier.

XX-XIX centuries BC. e.

Around 1970 B.C. e. power passes to the native Asshhurians. It was from this period that the inscription ishshiakkum Ilushuma came down to us, for the first time granting privileges to the Akkadian merchants, which was unthinkable in the practically “totalitarian” Kingdom of Sumer and Akkad, which had a state monopoly on foreign trade and credit operations. The inscription also refers to the restoration of the city wall, which clearly emphasizes the independence of Ashur. -XIX century BC. e. marked by rapid growth of trade and marketability of production. Using the proximity of their city to the most important trade routes, the Assurian and Akkadian merchants rush to various neighboring countries as trading agents, initially as merchants of Assurian fabrics, later engaging in metal speculation and credit; There are no news about land deals. In Asia Minor, their most important trading colony ( karum) was the city of Kanish. Another well-known inscription was left by the son of Ilushuma - ishshiakkum Erishum I, in which he also confirms the duty-free trade, however, in addition to everything, the introductory part tells about the city meeting or council, the decision is not made by Erishum alone. Thus, the early Ashur seems to be returning to the past, to the 3rd millennium BC. e., to communal and collegial institutions of power.

eighteenth century BC e.

Religion

The religion of Assyria differed little from Babylonian beliefs. All Assyrian prayers, hymns, spells, mythological tales, which the Assyrians inherited from the Akkadians, passed to Babylon. The sacred places of the Assyrians became the sacred places of the Babylonians.

Life and customs

Rulers of Assyria

The ruler of Assur bore the title ishshiakkum(Akkadization of the Sumerian word ensi). His power was practically hereditary, but not complete. He was in charge almost exclusively of the affairs of the religious cult and related construction. Ishshiakkum was also a high priest ( shanggu) and military leader. He usually held the position ukullu, that is, apparently, the supreme land surveyor and head of the council of elders. This council, called the "house of the city", enjoyed considerable influence in Ashur, it was in charge of deciding the most important state affairs. Council members called themselves "limmu". Each of them alternately performed management functions during the year (under the control of the entire council) and, apparently, headed the treasury. By the name of the next limmu, the year received its name. (Therefore, limma is often denoted in modern science the Greek term eponym). But gradually the composition of the council was increasingly replaced by people close to the ruler. With the strengthening of the power of the ruler, the importance of communal self-government bodies fell. Although the procedure for nominating a limmu was preserved later, when ishshiakkum turned into a real monarch.

Assyria is a state that has existed since the 24th century. BC e. and until the 7th century. BC e. She conquered most of the Middle East, created a new political system and influenced the Hellenistic and oriental cultures. The military and scientific technologies of Assyria influenced the development of ancient civilizations and were used by the leading powers of the ancient era.

During its heyday, Assyria occupied the territory from the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the Caspian Sea. Its members included major rivers Mesopotamia: Tigris and Euphrates.

In the 21st century, the following states are located on the site of Ancient Assyria:

• Iran (partially);
• Türkiye (partially);
• Lebanon;
• Iraq;
• Syria;
• Israel;
• Saudi Arabia (partially);
• Jordan (partly).

The relief of Assyria is represented by plains, deserts and mountainous areas. In the north ancient country were the Taurus Mountains, from where the Tigris River originated. Most of the territory of the state was located on the Jezira plateau and the Mesopotamian lowland, where important trade routes passed.

Conventionally, Assyria was divided by the Great Zab River into 2 agricultural regions, irrigated with the help of tributaries.

ancient city Assyria is Nineveh, which arose as a result of the fusion of many cultures of the Neolithic era. It became the capital of the state in the Neo-Assyrian period. The first capital city of the state was Ashur, destroyed in the 7th century BC. e.

The following cities also had the status of the capital:

• Shubat-Enlil and Ekallatum (capital from 1807 to 1720 BC);
• Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta (capital from 1210 to 1207 BC);
• Kalhu (capital from 870 to 707 BC);
• Dur-Sharrukin (capital from 707 to 690 BC);
• Harran (capital from 612 to 610 BC);
• Carchemish (capital from 610 to 605 BC).

The population of northern Assyria consisted mainly of nomadic Amorites and Akkadians. The Babylonians and the ancient Assyrians lived in the south of the country. At the present time, most of the territory of the former Assyria is inhabited by Iraqi Arabs, Turkmens, Syrians, Kurds and Turks.

Historical significance of Assyria and major achievements

Assyria is an ancient civilization that managed to organize the world's first disciplined regular army. Its soldiers were the first to use weapons made of iron.

This state has achieved success in the art of siege and the design of long-range guns. Assyrian commanders created the first prototypes of onagers and ballistas used in the Roman armies. Military reforms allowed the state to seize Western Asia and conquer Egypt.

The following table shows the structure of the average Assyrian army:

Assyria achieved success in such fields of science as engineering, astronomy and medicine. Assyrian specialists built the first water pipelines, canals and aqueducts 3 km long. Scientific works were kept in the library of the city of Nineveh.

They indicated the results of the observation of Assyrian scientists. After the defeat of the state, the library was partially destroyed. Manuscripts and books were moved to other cities. In the middle of the 19th century, archaeologists discovered the remains of the library of Nineveh and collected the remaining scientific works.

Assyrian creators were able to recreate a huge number of objects of fine art, literature and poetry. The works described the traditions of Mesopotamia and Mesopotamia. Assyria influenced the development of culture, art and architecture of Iran, Parthia and Persia.

State structure and rulers

The supreme rulers of Assyria bore the title of Ishshiakkum. They had partial power and could pass it on by inheritance. Ishshiakkum was engaged in the spiritual and construction industry of the country. The supreme rulers were chief priests, land managers and military leaders.

The policy of Assyria was determined by the Council of Elders. His workers were called "limmu". Each member of the Council of Elders headed the treasuries that determined the development state institutions Assyria.

The state has developed a system of community self-government. As the borders of the state expanded, the power of the Supreme Ruler increased. Gradually, adherents of Ishshiakkum began to take places in the Council of Elders, which led to the establishment absolute monarchy.

The first Ishshiakkum of Assyria was Tudia, the last was Ashur-uballit II.

The following rulers had a major impact on the development of the state:

Most of the kings of Assyria are buried in the city of Ashur. During the archaeological excavations, jewelry and personal belongings of the rulers were found in the burial places.

Dynasties

The first rulers of Assyria were the tribal leaders or city governors of the Ashur nome. The periods of their rule were characterized by military democracy with elements of a communal system. The first Assyrian dynasty was founded by Puzur-Ashur I at the beginning of the 20th century. BC e. Under her, the communal system began to weaken and the first self-government bodies appeared. The dynasty of Puzur-Ashur I was overthrown by the Amorites.

In the XIX century BC. e. power in Assyria was seized by the dynasty of Shamshi-Adad I. During the period of her reign, statehood was formed. Assyria becomes a kingdom, and the rulers acquire absolute power. The dynasty of Shamshi-Adad I ceased to exist in the 8th century. BC e. as a result of internecine wars under Tiglath-pileser III.

The last Assyrian dynasty was formed in 721 BC. e. after the accession to the throne of King Sargon II. The Sargonids came to power after a coup.

They eliminated the legitimate heir Shalmaneser V and violated the law of succession to the throne. During the reign of this dynasty, Assyria became an empire where Ishshiakkum had absolute power. Under the Sargonid dynasty, the Assyrian state collapsed due to numerous raids from Media and Babylonia.

Historical periods of development

Historians highlight 3 historical period development: Old Assyrian, Middle Assyrian and New Assyrian.

Old Assyrian period (from the XXV-XXIV century BC to the XV century BC)

Assyria is an ancient civilization that originated in the Arabian desert. Initially, the center of the state was the city of Ashur. It was named after the god of war Ashur and was the capital of the new state of the same name. The Assyrians were engaged in the cultivation of cereals and grapes.

They used land irrigation technologies that contributed to the increase in crops on dry land. In the eastern part of the country, the branches of agriculture and cattle breeding were developed. Gradually, Ashur began to influence the trade routes of Asia Minor and South Mesopotamia.

In the 2nd millennium BC. e. Assyrians captured the colony of Gasur, where there were large deposits of metals. During the colonization of Asia Minor, the Assyrian state began to import leather, wool and wood. In return, Assyria exported agricultural and livestock products. Assyrian artisans and craftsmen lived in the colony, developing the extraction of raw materials and consumables.

In the Old Assyrian period, Assyria was a state with a slave system. The lands belonging to the community were cultivated by slaves. The communal territory was subjected to redistribution and transferred to private ownership.

Residents who owned land became representatives of the upper strata of the population. They could acquire slaves for a long time. In most cases, slaves were acquired through trade or during military campaigns.

In the XX century BC. e. The economy of Assyria was partially destroyed due to the formation of the Hittite kingdom, which blocked trade routes in Asia Minor, and the state of Mari, which seized the territories of the Euphrates River. During this period, the Ishshiakkums organized the first military campaigns.

Assyria has captured the cities of northern Mesopotamia and is reestablishing trade with Western powers. In 1781 BC. e. she established a protectorate over Mari and occupied the Syrian settlement of Qatna.

Assyria was ancient civilization leading an aggressive offensive policy. In the Old Assyrian period, she waged wars in the eastern, northern and western directions.

But this state maintained neutral relations with the southern powers of Mesopotamia: Babylonia and Eshnunna. As a result of territorial expansion, Assyria took possession of the territories of Asia Minor and the eastern Mediterranean in the 19th and 18th centuries. BC e.

IN last years In the Old Assyrian period, Assyria was ruled by King Shamshi-Adad I. He strengthened the power of Ishshiakkum and partially abolished the functions of the Council of Elders. Assyria was divided into districts and khalsums - provinces.

At the head administrative divisions there were governors appointed by order of the ruler. After the reorganization, a tax system and a regular army appeared in the country, consisting of trained soldiers and a people's militia.

At the end of the 16th century BC. e. Assyria went to war with Babylonia, which was under the control of Hammurabi. The state of Mari and the Kingdom of Mitann became allies of the Babylonian ruler. Being surrounded by opponents, Assyria was defeated in the war and lost the occupied territories. The economic situation in the country worsened due to the loss of trade routes in Asia Minor and Syria.

Middle Assyrian period (from the 14th century BC to the 10th century BC)

At the beginning of the Middle Assyrian period, Assyria began a military campaign to regain the lands lost in the war with Babylonia and the Mitannian kingdom. She enters into an alliance with Egypt, led by Pharaoh Thutmose III. This alliance contributed to the development of diplomatic relations between the states and made it possible to control the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Allies created transport routes across the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea and organized joint trade. At the beginning of the XIV century BC. e. Assyrian ruler Ashur-uballit I staged a coup in Babylonia. As a result, the Babylonian throne is occupied by proteges supporting the policy of Assyria.

During the reign of the kings Adad-Nerari I and Shalmaneser I, Assyria seized the western territories of the Mitannian state. Assyrian soldiers took 30,000 prisoners and continued their advance north to occupy Transcaucasia.

In the XII century. BC e. the treasury of Assyria was devastated due to continuous wars, which led to the decline of the state on the international stage. It was possible to restore the economy a century later, after Tiglath-Pileser I came to power. The abolition of the Hittite kingdom and the fragmentation of Egypt contributed to the economic recovery of Assyria.

Assyria organized 30 campaigns against Syria and northern Phoenicia, capturing crossings across the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Assyrian rulers forced the inhabitants of the occupied territories to pay tribute, the merchants were subject to increased duties, which made it possible to eliminate the shortage of funds in the treasury.

During this period, the fortress of Nineveh was built, designed to protect the royal treasures. After the decline of ancient Ashur, it became the capital of Assyria.

In the Middle Assyrian period, the population of Assyria continued to be slave-owning. Classes of landowners, merchants, priests and court nobility appeared. The land was owned by community members who controlled the irrigation system.

The kings lost absolute power and occupied themselves with religious or military matters. The role of the Council of Elders was reduced, public administration was carried out by the Assyrian nobility, formed from large community members.

At the end of the XI century. BC e. Assyria experienced raids from the nomadic tribes of the Arameans, who settled throughout the country. For 150 years the country was in a fragmented state.

With the onset of the new millennium, iron was discovered. Assyria used this material for the manufacture of guns, shields and siege structures. The iron trade and the political crisis in Babylon contributed to the rise of Assyria in the international arena. At the end of the Middle Assyrian period, new powers appeared on the world map: Media, Lydia and Persia.

Neo-Assyrian period (from the 9th century BC to the 7th century BC)

In the ninth century BC. e. Assyria was proclaimed an empire. She resumed expansion in the Middle East. The occupied lands were completely ruined, and local residents moved to remote areas of the country. The massacres led to a lack of human resources. Assyria experienced a shortage of slaves and officials to collect tax revenue.

The authorities of Assyria began to carry out the militarization of the country, which worsened relations with other states of the East. Residents of trading cities, freed from military service were stripped of their privileges. Babylon retained special rights. This city has long been the cultural capital of Assyria.

Large temples, palaces and architectural statues were built here. The population of Babylon opposed the policy of the Assyrian rulers and staged uprisings. In the 7th century BC e. The city was destroyed by order of King Sennacherib. The ruin of Babylon led to riots in Nineveh, so the city was rebuilt.

In the 1st millennium BC. e. In Assyria, a political crisis began, caused by the militarization of the state and constant wars. The state of Urartu appeared on the international arena, carrying out raids on Syria and Asia Minor.

Due to the great corruption and fragmentation of the army, Assyria suffered defeat in the war with Urartu. Therefore, with the coming to power of King Tiglathpalasar, a military reform was carried out. The ruler staffed a combat-ready army of trained warriors and disbanded the militia, which had low effectiveness in defense and offensive.

Tiglathpalasar increased the number of light infantry and created mounted units. Armor and helmets began to be used to protect warriors. After military reform the army was accompanied by priests and musicians who raised the morale of the recruits.

A system of agents and scouts was created to collect information about the enemy. The renewed army consisted of 120,000 soldiers, divided into detachments of 10 to 1,000 people. Mercenaries were completely absent in the Assyrian troops. As a result of the military reform, Tiglathpalasar made 2 successful military campaigns, capturing the territory of Urartu.

The death of Assyria

In 614 BC. e. opposed Assyria military coalition. It included Media, Babylon and the nomadic tribes of the Scythians. After a long siege, the cities of Ashur and Nineveh were captured. The defeat of the Assyrians took place in 605 BC. e. The Assyrian army was defeated by the troops of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.

Causes of the death of the Assyrian state:

• uprisings of the inhabitants of the occupied territories;
• political instability within the state;
• unification of Babylonia and Media;
• the appearance of iron tools in other countries.

The Middle Eastern powers divided the territory of Assyria. Assyrian rulers and nobles were put on trial and executed.

Culture of Assyria

Assyria is an ancient civilization that combines the cultural characteristics of the peoples of the Ancient East. Assyrian culture was formed as a result of the seizure of new territories and countries. Babylonia had a special influence on her. Assyria adopted elements of writing from this state. A system of libraries was created, where over 25,000 books, manuscripts and clay tablets were stored.

In the archives of Assyria, ancient treatises on medicine and mathematics, culinary and household recipes, works of the Sumerians and legal documentation were collected. Professional scribes worked in the libraries of Assyria, transcribing hundreds of works of the great figures of the Ancient World. With the help of these written sources, modern historians have been able to learn about the daily life of the Assyrians, their customs and traditions.

Art and architecture

Assyria is an ancient civilization that influenced the development of art and architecture in the Middle East. Assyrian works of architecture and art are represented by numerous bas-reliefs that have survived to this day.

The Assyrians decorated buildings with murals and complex ornaments. Most often, architects and artists depicted bulls with wings and human heads, symbolizing the Assyrian rulers. The construction technologies of Assyria were used in the construction of Persian palaces and castles, considered masterpieces of art and architecture.

Religion

The Assyrians were pagans and believed primarily in the Babylonian gods.

A special place in Assyrian mythology was occupied by Ashur, who was an analogue of the Babylonian god of war Marduk.

The deities were considered immortal and powerful.

They possessed the flaws and virtues of ordinary people and had a unique purpose.

The inhabitants of Assyria believed in a God close to their line of work. They paid honors and held religious ceremonies.

Divine amulets and amulets, which protected from the effects of negative energy, were very popular among the Assyrians.

Part of the population retained ancient beliefs and superstitions that arose before the capture of Babylonia.

Modern descendants of the Assyrians are adherents of Christianity. They belong to the Chaldean Catholic Church of the East.

Mighty Assyria is an ancient civilization that determined the vector of development of human history. This state created the foundations of fundamental sciences and influenced the art, religion and culture of the countries of the Middle East and Hellas.

Assyrian commanders created new tactics for warfare and formed the structure of a regular army. Despite the development of the social and spiritual spheres, Assyria was a militarized state, pursuing a policy of expansion, which led to frequent riots and the subsequent disintegration of the country.

Article formatting: Mila Fridan

Video about Assyrian civilization

Formation of Assyria and New Babylon:

Short story. Huge Assyria grew out of a small nome (administrative district) Ashur in the North. For a long time, the “country of Ashur” does not play a significant role in the fate of Mesopotamia and lags behind its southern neighbors in development. Rise of Assyria falls on the XIII-XII centuries. BC and suddenly ends as a result of the invasion of the Arameans. For a century and a half, the population of the “country of Ashur” has been experiencing the hardships of foreign domination, is ruined, and suffers from hunger.

But in the ninth century BC e. Assyria is recovering. The era of large-scale conquests begins. The Assyrian kings create a perfect military machine and turn their state into the most powerful state in the world. Vast expanses of Western Asia submit to the Assyrians. Only by the beginning of the 7th century. BC e. their energy and strength dries up. The rebellion of the conquered Babylonians, who made an alliance with the tribes of the Medes, leads to the death of the colossal Assyrian empire. The people of merchants and soldiers, who held her weight on their shoulders, heroically resisted for several years. In 609 BC. e. there is a fall of the city of Haran, the last stronghold of the "country of Ashur".

History of the ancient kingdom of Assyria

Time passed, and already from the XIV century. BC e. in the Ashurian documents the ruler began to be called the king, like the rulers of Babylonia, Mitanni or the Hittite state, and the Egyptian pharaoh - his brother. Since that time, the Assyrian territory either expanded to the west and east, then again shrank to the size of the historical ancient Assyria- a narrow strip of land along the banks of the Tigris in its upper reaches. In the middle of the thirteenth century BC e. Assyrian armies they even invaded the borders of the Hittite state - one of the strongest at that time, regularly made campaigns - not so much for the sake of increasing territory, but for the sake of robbery - to the north, to the lands of the Nairi tribes; to the south, more than once passing through the streets of Babylon; to the west - to the flourishing cities of Syria and.

The next heyday of the Assyrian civilization reached at the beginning of the XI century. BC e. under Tiglathpalasar I (about 1114 - about 1076 BC). His armies made more than 30 campaigns to the west, captured Northern Syria, Phoenicia and some provinces of Asia Minor. Most of the trade routes linking the west with the east once again ended up in the hands of Assyrian merchants. In honor of his triumph after the conquest of Phoenicia, Tiglathpalasar I undertook a demonstrative exit on Phoenician warships to the Mediterranean Sea, showing the still formidable rival - who is in fact a great power.

Map of ancient Assyria

A new, third stage of the Assyrian offensive falls already on the IX-VII centuries. BC e. After a two hundred year hiatus, former time the decline of the state and the forced defense from the hordes of nomads from the south, north and east, the Assyrian kingdom reasserted itself as a mighty empire. She launched her first serious offensive to the south - to Babylon, which was defeated. Then, as a result of several campaigns to the west, the entire region of Upper Mesopotamia came under the rule of ancient Assyria. The way was opened for further advance into Syria. Ancient Assyria, over the next few decades, practically did not know defeat and was steadily moving towards its goal: to take control of the main sources of raw materials, centers of production and trade routes from the Persian Gulf to the Armenian Highlands and from Iran to the Mediterranean Sea and Asia Minor.

In the course of several successful campaigns, the Assyrian armies defeated their northern neighbors, after a grueling and ruthless struggle they led the states of Syria and Palestine into submission, and, finally, under King Sargon II in 710 BC. e. Babylon was finally conquered. Sargon was crowned king of Babylon. His successor, Sennacherib, fought for a long time against the rebelliousness of the Babylonians and their allies, but by this time Assyria had become the strongest power.

However, the triumph of the Assyrian civilization did not last long. The uprisings of the conquered peoples shook different areas of the empire - from southern Mesopotamia to Syria.

Finally, in 626 BC. e. The leader of the Chaldean tribe from southern Mesopotamia, Nabopolassar, seized the royal throne in Babylonia. Even earlier, to the east of the kingdom of Assyria, the scattered tribes of the Medes united in the Median kingdom. culture time Assyria passed. Already in 615 BC. e. Medes appeared at the walls of the capital of the state - Nineveh. In the same year, Nabopolassar laid siege to the ancient center of the country - Ashur. In 614 BC. e. the Medes again invaded Assyria and also approached Assur. Nabopolassar immediately moved his troops to join them. Ashur fell before the arrival of the Babylonians, and at its ruins the kings of Media and Babylon entered into an alliance sealed by a dynastic marriage. In 612 BC. e. Allied forces laid siege to Nineveh and took it just three months later. The city was destroyed and plundered, the Medes returned to their lands with a share of the booty, and the Babylonians continued to conquer the Assyrian inheritance. In 610 BC. e. the remnants of the Assyrian army, reinforced by Egyptian reinforcements, were defeated and driven back across the Euphrates. Five years later, the last Assyrian detachments were defeated. This is how it ended the first "world" power in the history of mankind. At the same time, no significant ethnic changes took place: only the “top” of Assyrian society perished. The huge centuries-old inheritance of the kingdom of Assyria passed to Babylon.