Historical Overview

The largest and most powerful Assyrian phase, known for:

• First professional standing army in history.
• Enormous territorial expansion.
• Highly efficient administration.
• Monumental architecture and vast libraries.

The Neo-Assyrian Empire became the first true superpower of the ancient world.

Army — Most Advanced of the Ancient Near East

Structure

• Fully professional army, paid by the state.
• Highly specialized:

Infantry:

• Spearmen
• Archers
• Slingers
• Shield-bearers
• Elite guard units

Cavalry:

• Light and heavy cavalry → innovative for the time.
• Used in combination with chariots for shock attacks.

Chariots:

• Heavy 4-horse chariots used as mobile command platforms.

Siege Corps:

• Battering rams, siege towers, sappers, tunneling crews.
• Most advanced siege warfare before the Romans.

Weapons

• Extensive use of iron swords, iron spears, iron armor.
• Composite bows with great range.

Strategy

• Psychological warfare: intimidation, tribute demands, mass deportations.
• Logistics: network of state roads and relay stations for rapid communication.
• Use of intelligence and spies.

People & Society

The empire was extremely multicultural:

• Assyrians formed the ruling military elite.
• Conquered peoples were deported to increase labor force and reduce rebellion.
• Many deported communities became skilled workers, farmers, or soldiers.

Social Structure

1. King – absolute ruler chosen by Aššur.
2. Nobility & high officials – military and administrative leadership.
3. Skilled craftsmen & scribes – essential for palaces and record keeping.
4. Farmers & laborers – large base of society.
5. Deportees – integrated into economy but without full rights.
6. Slaves – small percentage, mainly war captives.

Economy

• Vast agricultural production: barley, wheat, dates, olive oil, wine.
• Massive irrigation systems and canal projects.
• Tribute from conquered lands: metals, horses, luxury goods, slaves.
• Trade routes protected by Assyrian garrisons.
• Workshops in major cities produced bronze, iron, textiles, pottery.

Religion

Belief System

• Main god: Aššur – symbol of empire, war, justice, cosmic order.
• Kings believed they acted as Aššur’s representatives.

Other major gods

• Ishtar – goddess of war and love.
• Shamash – sun god, justice.
• Nabu – god of writing and wisdom.
• Sin – moon god.
• Adad – weather and storms.

Religious Practices

• Daily offerings, temple rituals, large festivals.
• Divination and astrology used for political decisions.
• Temples were both religious and administrative centers.

Culture

• Monumental palaces at Nineveh, Nimrud, Khorsabad.
• Reliefs showing war, hunting, mythology, and royal propaganda.
• Libraries collected vast amounts of knowledge.

Library of Ashurbanipal

• Over 30,000 clay tablets: literature, science, medicine, astronomy, omens.
• Preserved epics like the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Architecture

• Massive walls, citadels, decorated gates, ziggurats, canals, gardens.
• Some scholars think Nineveh may have had "proto-gardens" similar to Hanging Gardens.

Key Kings of the Neo-Assyrian Empire

• Adad-nirari II – start of resurgence.
• Ashurnasirpal II – brutal conquests; capital at Kalhu.
• Shalmaneser III – war in Syria; Black Obelisk.
• Tiglath-Pileser III – reforms; expansion; new provincial system.
• Sargon II – built Dur-Sharrukin.
• Sennacherib – destroyed Babylon; expanded Nineveh.
• Esarhaddon – conquered Egypt.
• Ashurbanipal – last great king; library; cultural peak.

Fall of the Empire (612–609 BCE)

• Civil wars after Ashurbanipal’s death.
• Rebellions in Babylon.
• Coalition of Medes, Babylonians, Scythians destroyed Assyrian cities.
• 612 BCE: Fall of Nineveh.
• 609 BCE: Final defeat at Harran.