Assyria

1. Assyria By Kayleigh Junk and Ryan Pritchett

2. Geography • North Mesopotamia • Reaches west to the Euphrates river and east to Lake Urmi (now Iran). • Approximately the size of Kansas • Major Cities- Ashur (original capital), Nineveh (later capital), and Kalakh. • Taurus and Zagros mountains

4. Agriculture • Rich corn fields made Arbel one of the earliest agricultural settlements. • Livestock- Pigs, sheep, goats, cattle • Crops- Wheat, barley, corn • Tools- Stone axes and hoes • Small villages connected by an intricate irrigation system

5. Government Structure • These city-states are organized into the Assyrian empire (circa 5,000 B.C.E.) • Kings rule united empire, usually trying to expand the boundaries • Temporarily ruled by vassal kings of Babylonia • Each province had a king-anointed governer.

6. Social Structure • King> Local Rulers> Merchants> Soldiers> Artisans> Farmers> Slaves • There were fewer slaves than in most other early civilizations, they played a small role in the economy • A vast majority of population were farmers

7. Family Organization/ Gender Structure • Earliest legal documents of Assyria show men and women equal in marriage • The Code of Assura (1075 B.C.E.) shows how women’s rights dramatically dropped • Children were considered property to father until they came of age • From around 700 B.C.E. women had to wear veils outside • Men could divorce women with no compensation, a

8. Religious Beliefs • Ashurism was the main religion • Polytheistic, gods represent natural circumstances important to Assyrians • Gods are humanlike; prone to mortal mistakes • Nearly identical to Babylonian religion • A small population of Hebrews (they were exported)

10. Population Growth and Decline • The population increased greatly when Shalmaneser III conquers surrounding lands including Kummuh, Urartu Rassappa, and Babylonia (856 B.C.E.) • Population has mass decline when Medes and Babylonia ally against Assyria and defeat Ashur-Uballit in a three year war. (612 B.C.E.)

11. Disease • They believed that Spiritual, Mental, and Physical health are interconnected. • Illness= Not favored by the gods • “Physicians” used herbs, magical stones, and rituals to cure or prevent sickness. • One must make amends with the god that was offended in order to heal.

12. Migrations • Migration to Assyria from Balkan Peninsula in 1200 B.C.E. • Sargon II sent Hebrews out, 28,000 • Israelites become “Ten Lost Tribes of Israel” 721 B.C.E. Ten Lost Tribes

13. WAR • The empire collapsed and relapsed many times • The first civilization to make military a central focus. • Used psychological warfare to deter enemies of the king from attacking. • Extremely gruesome punishments to warn other empires

14. Weaponry • The first to use iron spears, swords, shields, arrows, and battering rams • Bronze weapons useless against iron. • Advanced cavalry units • Hand propelled catapults • Vehicles with armor protection

16. Trade • Metals were imported Antolia/Armenia • Tin imported from northwestern Iran • Lumber imported from the west • Opening new trade routes was often the cause of war. • Assyrian and Babylonian empires profited greatly from mutual trade.

17. The Arts • Polychrome stone carvings on monuments • Art usually concerns royal affairs, hunting, and war making • Animal depictions of horses and lions • Skillful pottery and clay making • Winged beasts with bearded human heads protect royal gateways

21. Writing System • The earliest writing form found in Assyria is Akkadian, which is written with cuneiform on clay tablets • Later, leather and papyrus were used as surfaces for writing • More modern system is called Neo-Syriac. • Both forms read left to right.

23. Literature/Sacred Writing • Assyrians studied from Babylonian texts • Historians have discovered some epic poems about religion and war • Songs were used for entertainment • There are inscriptions from the kings which would make them into legends • They preserved a library of over 30,000 clay tablets!?!?!?

24. The End