Empire1st to rule a far flung empire and diverse people

EmpireRulers of the neo-Assyrian Empire (911-612

BCE) moved westward toward the Mediterranean Sea

This movement coincided with long distance trade routes heading to eastern Asia

Allowed for ‘booty’ as well as tribute and taxes from those the Assyrians conquered

Guaranteed access to iron and silver depositsLong tradition of trade with Syria and AnatoliaCapital: Nineveh

EmpireOriginally started off as

aggressive program of self-defense and reestablishment of old claims

Driven by pride, greed, religious conviction

Assyrians controlled (at its peak) areas in the Med. Sea (Anatolia, Syria-Palestine, Egypt) through Mesopotamia to Iran

Characteristics of the EmpireLarger than anything that had come

beforeDedicated to the enrichment of the

imperial center at the expense of the periphery (funnel)

God and KingCenter of the universe, all belonged to himEarthly representative of the gods Instrument of the godsHereditaryAnointed by priestsAshur, capital cityTheocracy

King’s Secular DutiesReceived info daily from messengers and

spiesMade decisionsHeard complaintsCorresponded through scribesReceived and entertained foreign envoys and

government officialsMilitary leader (planning, inspections)

King’s Religious DutiesSupervisor of state religionOversaw public and private ritualsOversaw upkeep of templesConsulted gods through divination before

making decisions for the stateCarried out under chief god AshurAll victories were proof of Ashur’s superiority

over conquered peoples’ gods

Propaganda“Blew his own horn”Throughout kingdom royal inscriptions of

victories, power of the king, and punishments if people challenged his laws

Relief sculptures: hunts, sieges, executions, deportations on the walls of palaces at Kalhu and Nineveh

Huge statues of king to awe visitors to the court

Ashurbanipal II

Conquest and ControlSuperior military organization and

technologyTwo groups:

Men who were obligated to give military service according to land grants

Peasants and slaves contributed by landowners

Conquest and Control

Conquest and Control500,000 troopsLight armed bowmen and slingers (projectiles)

Spearmen with body armorCavalry (speed and mobility)Four man chariotsIron weaponsTunnels, mobile towersSpiesSignal fires

Mass DeportationTerror tactics to discourage resistance and

rebellionMass deportation: forcible uprooting of large

numbers of people or communities in order to transport and resettle them

Break the morale of the enemyShift large amounts of labor to center of the

empire

Control and Economic ProblemsVast distancesDiverse landscapesMany types of people with various languages,

customs, religions, and politcal organizationTight control at the center and lands closest

to the coreLess in outer areas

Control and EconomicsDivided into provincesProvincial officials obtained tribute and taxes,

maintained law and order, raise troops, undertake public works, give provisions to Assyrian troops passing through

Central government dealt directly with provinces, frequent inspections

Culture and SocietyFree landowning citizensFarmers and artisans attached to the estates

of the king or landownersSlaves (had legal rights and could move up)All subjects and deportees were considered

“human beings” All had same legal rights and protectionAll had labor and military obligations

Culture/IntellectPreservation of old and acquisition of new

knowledge importantMathAstronomyPhysicians experimentedLibrary of Ahshubanipal at Nineveh

25000 fragment and tabletsLiterary and scientific knowledgePreserved Mesopotamian art, literature“House of Knowledge”

This tablet, telling the myth of the goddess Ishtar's visit to her sister, the underworld goddess Ereshkigal, ends with a colophon describing it as the property of Assurbanipal, 'king of the world, king of the land of Ashur'; from Assurbanipal's Library in Nineveh

EconomyAgriculture was foundation of economyVast majority worked in agriculture to

support the army, government officials, religious people, professionals, artisans etc

Trade at local level (foods, crafts)Long distance trade ( luxury goods- textiles,

gems, dyes, ivory)Silver was the medium of exchange