Lesson 5: Assyria

After Hammurabi's death, Babylonia was ruled by a series of weak kings. Then around 1300 BCE, a group of people known as the Assyrians defeated Babylonia and conquered all of Mesopotamia. Assyria built an empire that reached as far as Egypt.

The Assyrians enjoyed going to war and were very good at it. Their success was due in part to their use of iron weapons. Most of Assyria's opponents were still using bronze weapons, which were much weaker. The Assyrians also used chariots, which allowed them to move quickly on the battlefield. The charioteers were usually armed with iron swords and spears, and protected by shields and body armour. No other army used chariots, so the Assyrians had a distinct advantage.

The Assyrians planned their invasions very carefully, studying both the climate and landscape prior to attacking. They had an intricate spy system as well. The Assyrians even had war reporters travel with them during their battles and observe what happened. Later these people carved scenes from the battles onto flat stone slabs.

The Assyrians fought wars in order to obtain new lands, seize trade from other nations, to steal the wealth of other lands, and to add slaves to their workforce. The Assyrians forced the people they conquered to pay taxes and forced prisoners of war to build canals, palaces, temples, and city-walls.

Eventually the Assyrian rule of fear began to crumble. Civil wars broke out, rebellions by subjected people arose, and military defeats occurred. Finally, in 612 BCE, the Assyrian empire was conquered.

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