Download 1.7 Assyrian Conquerors

The Assyrian Conquerors
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The Lord said,"... But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty
thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many
cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" (Jonah
4:10)
The Rise of the Conquerors
While the Mesopotamian civilizations were
the oldest (3500 BC), and Egypt was the
longest lasting (as a main power, 3100-605
BC), the Assyrian Empire was the most
powerful civilization the world had ever
known (911-612 BC).
A Power Vacuum
During Egyptian dominance, Assyria had
been growing increasingly powerful. Two
things contributed to Assyrian dominance:
1. Fall of the competing civilizations –
Kassites (Babylon), Hittites (Egypt’s
competition), Egypt
2. Spread of the Iron Age (no longer
monopolized by Hittites)
The Rise of the Conquerors
Development of Assyria
•3000 BC: City-State of Ashur formed
(Assyrians born)
•Egypt (+Babylon, Hittites) dominant for
a long time
•1247 BC: Assyrians sack Babylon
•Tiglath-Pileser I conquers 42 cities (?),
hunts sharks
•Tiglath-Pileser III founds real Assyrian
Empire
• Conquers Babylon, subjugates
Hebrews
• Deports 200,000 rebels – new
policy
Development of Assyria
•Sargon II crushes Israel (but not
Judah)
•Sennacherib crushes Judah (but
not Jerusalem – tribute or divine
intervention?)
• Also levels Babylon –
shocking!
•Later kings invade Egypt –
enormous empire
•612 BC: Ninevah destroyed by
New Babylonians (Chaldeans)
War Machine
Assyria was a military
powerhouse for several
reasons:
Organization: specialized army
•Chariots: giant, four-men chariots
formed core of army
•Calvary: armed with bow and
lance
•Infantry: made heavy use of
archers and lancers
“Reign of Terror”: Horrible
reputation for cruelty
discouraged opposition
• Rebellion punished by razing
cities
• Leaders would be tortured and
killed
• Flaying, live burials, crucifixion
common
This relief represents part of a
scene from a marble slab
discovered at Khorsabad. The
Assyrian king is using a spear
to blind one of his many
prisoners. In his left hand he
holds a cord with a hook
attached at the opposite end
which are inserted into the
prisoners lips. The Assyrians
would thrust the point of a
dagger or spear into the eye.
Society and Culture
Society
•Run by military despotism
• King rules by army
• Like Egypt, but with more
force/violence
•Most people required to serve in
army for some time (“ilku service”)
•Code of law very brutal
• Repressive towards women
• Cutting off ears, noses, limbs
common
• Capital punishment decided
by victim’s family (nasty)
Culture
•Religious system based on
worship of Ashur (founder, chief
God)
•King functioned as high priest
•No respect for foreign Gods
(uncommon)
•Did have strong culture:
• Enormous library in Nineveh
• Incredibly realistic art
(unparalleled until Romans)
Downfall
Too inhuman?
•Cruelty of the Assyrians ultimately united their enemies
against them
•612 BC, Babylonians made alliance with Persia
•Joint force completely destroys Nineveh – God’s judgement?