The Assyrian Empire (c. 1900-609 BCE)
The Assyrian Empire rose from a small city-state, Assur that was located in the northern part of ancient Iraq. It was a centre for international trade where the merchants of Assur were engaged in long-term commercial activities; they relied on caravan trade taking raw material, textile and tin to as far as Anatolia and exchanging them for cash. This type of trade was very profitable and became the source of wealth for the Assyrians. Assur was ruled by a series of powerful kings who were ambitious and aggressive to lead multiple military campaigns and able to unite a collection of cities under their control.
Two of the rulers of the Assyrian empire who had unlimited political aspiration and undertook successful military campaigns were Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE), Sennacherib (705-681 BCE) and Ashurbanipal (669-631 BCE). Expansion was something that the Assyrians took great pride in. During the coronation of the kings, the king had to take an oath and promise to extend the land’s dominion further. The kings served as guardians of the empire, which was organised into provinces, each governed by its appointed governor known as "The Great Ones." These individuals comprised the king's cabinet, overseeing the administration and management of their respective provinces. This governance structure of the empire indicates a combination of centralised and decentralised authority. While governance to some extent was decentralised through the provincial division, the governors referred to as “The Great Ones” operated under the king’s authority, by which the king maintained his overarching power over the empire.
Between the 900-700 BCE the Assyrian kings ruled over a diverse geographical and cultural region, including parts of modern-day Kuwait, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Turkey. One result of the Assyrian expansion strategy was the internationalisation of the region. The Assyrian kings implemented a fateful policy of deporting large populations, forcing them to settle in new areas. For example, mountain residents were deported to settle in the plains. The exact intent behind this policy, whether for economic growth in impoverished populated areas, ensuring security, or a mix of both, remains unclear. However, the outcome was the emergence of a diverse population in ancient Iraq and surrounding regions, consisting of people from various lands. Among them, Aramaic became the most commonly spoken and understood language.
Due to their relentless and victorious military campaigns, the Assyrians amassed considerable wealth from across the Near East, greatly enriching the Assyrian kings. This newfound wealth resulted in the construction of grand cities and palaces. During King Sennacherib's reign, Nineveh became the capital of the empire and underwent a remarkable transformation, evolving into a bustling city that amazed the ancient world with its size and magnificence. The city boasted palaces and temples adorned with massive sculptures and exquisitely carved reliefs. The King’s palace known as the “Palace Without Rivals” was built to showcase the king’s power, and its entrance featured massive human-headed winged-bulls called “Lamassu”, believed to protect the king from supernatural dangers.
This article was written by Renas Babakir and is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
