Historical Overview

• Reemergence as a regional empire.
• Formation of a strong, centralized monarchy.
• Expansion into Syria, Anatolia, and northern Mesopotamia.

Army

The Middle Assyrian army became one of the strongest of its time:

Structure

• Still partly citizen-based, but more professionalized.
• Introduction of larger chariot units and organized infantry units.
• Specialized troops: archers, spearmen, slingers, and charioteers.

Weapons & Technology

• Better bronze weaponry → early use of iron tools and weapons.
• Tactical innovation in siege warfare: ladders, sappers, battering devices.

Strategy

• Conquest and deportations used to expand control.
• Military discipline became strict; punishments severe.

People & Society

• Society became more hierarchical.
• Nobility and military elites gained power.
• Large numbers of deported people from conquered regions resettled in Assyria.
• These deportees became farmers, craftsmen, or soldiers → boosting economy.

Economy

• Agriculture expanded (barley, wheat, sheep, cattle).
• Irrigation systems improved by state organization.
• Tribute from conquered states became a large income source.
• Trade still important, but now controlled more directly by the crown.

Religion

• Aššur becomes a supreme god who demands the expansion of Assyria.
• Kings presented themselves as chosen by Aššur to “extend his land”.
• Important deities: Ishtar, Adad, Nabu, Shamash, Sin.
• Temples were administrative centers and stored economic records.

Culture

• Middle Assyrian Laws: extremely strict, regulating marriage, property, slavery.
• Art: palace reliefs begin to appear, showing hunting scenes and battles.
• Architecture: fortified cities, palaces in Aššur and other capitals.
• Writing: Standardization of cuneiform; rise of royal inscriptions.

Key Rulers

• Ashur-uballit I – freed Assyria from Mitanni control.
• Adad-nirari I – reorganized provinces.
• Shalmaneser I – major builder; defeated Hurrians.
• Tukulti-Ninurta I – conquered Babylon; wrote epic poems about his victories.

Army

• Mostly citizen-soldiers, not yet a professional army.
• Weapons: bronze spears, axes, daggers, simple bows.
• Soldiers were often farmers who served during conflict.
• Warfare was mostly city-state battles over land, canals, and trade routes.
• Chariots existed but were primitive (two-wheeled, donkey-drawn).

People & Society

• Population: farmers, shepherds, craftsmen, merchants.
• Sumerian influence was strong: architecture, writing, and administration.
• Society was divided into:
  • awīlum – free citizens
  • mushkenum – dependent people
  • wardum – slaves
• Women had legal rights: property, inheritance, business involvement.

Religion

• Polytheistic with strong Sumerian roots:
  • Enlil, Enki, Sin, Shamash, Ishtar
• Babylon’s patron god was not yet Marduk (that came later).
• Temples (Ekur, Eanna) were political and economic centers.
• Priests kept agricultural/astronomical calendars.

Economy

• Agricultural: barley, wheat, dates, sheep, goats.
• Early canal-based irrigation.
• Trade with Sumer, Akkad, Elam.
• Clay tablet contracts appear for the first time.

Culture

• Writing: early Akkadian cuneiform.
• Sumerian literature still dominant.
• Mathematics: beginnings of base-60 system.