The Assyrians

Chapter 3-1

Assyrian Empire

• Empire: A large area of land ruled by oneperson

• Dominate : To Control• 900-700 BCE: Assyrian Empire dominated

cities and trade routes throughMesopotamia or Fertile Crescent.

• Fierce Warriors hated and feared byenemies.

Why did People Fear theAssyrians?

• Iron weapons-technology learned from theHittites-hard and stronger than bronze

• Smelting Process– Artisans : A person who works with his or her

hands to create something– 1) Artisan heat iron until it is red hot– 2) Hammer iron– 3) Quickly cool iron– 4) Shape it into weapons

Iron/Bronze/Copper Weapons

Why did People Fear Assyrians?

• Army divided into groups– Chariots: A two-wheeled horse drawn carriage– Cavalry: Soldiers on horseback– Archers: a soldier who fights with bows and

arrows.

How did the Assyrian Army Attack?

• They marched forward shoulder toshoulder; then archers would shower theenemy with iron-tipped arrows.

• Next, cavalry and charioteers attackedwith iron helmets, breast plates, spearsand swords which made them retreat.

• Battered down gates with tree trunks ortunneled under walls.

Assyrian Soldiers

What did the Assyrians do whenthey won?

• Burned them alive• Beheadings• Slaves• Move far away• Stole everything• Burned city to the

ground

Where was the Assyrian Capital?

• Nineveh on the Tigris River was KingAssurbanipal’s capital

• Capital: The city from which a ruler, oremperor, rules

• Tribute: A payment given to a strongerruler or nation

Map of Assyrian Empire

How did King A. Help Historians?

• Set up library & saved ancient writingsfrom Sumer and Akkad.

• In 1852 AD, archeologists found 22,000clay tablets.– Contained dictionaries– Important events– Songs and stories of the past– Historians’ dream find

How did the King Govern theEmpire?

• Assyrian Empire was the Fertile Crescentand Egypt.

• Govern : to rule• Province: an area of land that is part of a

larger country• King chose a governor for each province

who collected taxes and established king’slaws.

How did the King Govern theEmpire?

• Assyrians built roads that were level forcharioteers.

• Merchants and soldiers moved quicklythrough the empire

Why did the Assyrian Empire Fall?

• Too large to govern well.• Conquered people rebelled (disobeyed or

fought against).• Alliance : an agreement to help one

another• Chaldeans from Babylon & Medes from

Persia created alliance to defeat theAssyrians