The Assyrian state is considered the first empire in human history. The state, where the cult of cruelty flourished, existed until 605 BC. until it was destroyed by the combined forces of Babylon and Media.
Birth of Ashur
In the II millennium BC. the climate in the Arabian Peninsula has deteriorated. This forced the aborigines to leave their ancestral territory and go in search of a "better life". Among them were the Assyrians. They chose the valley of the Tigris River as a new homeland and founded the city of Ashur on its bank.
Although a fertile place was chosen for the city, the presence of more powerful neighbors (Sumerians, Akkadians and others) could not but affect the life of the Assyrians. They had to be the best at everything in order to survive. Merchants began to play a key role in the young state.
But political independence came later. First, Ashur was under the control of Akkad, then Ur, captured him and the Babylonian king Hammurabi, and then - the city was dependent on Mitania.
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Ashur found himself under the rule of Mitania for about a hundred years. But under King Shalmaneser I, the state was strengthened. The result is the destruction of Mitania. And its territory, accordingly, went to Assyria.
Tiglatpalasar I (1115 - 1076 BC) managed to bring the state to a new level. All neighbors began to reckon with him. It seemed that the "finest hour" was near. But in 1076 BC. the king died. And there was no worthy successor among the contenders for the throne. The Aramean nomads took advantage of this and inflicted several crushing defeats on the Assyrian troops. The territory of the state was sharply reduced - the captured cities came out of power. In the end, Assyria was left with only the ancestral lands, and the country itself was in a deep crisis.
New Assyrian Empire
It took Assyria more than two hundred years to recover from the blow. Only under King Tiglapalasar III, who ruled from 745 to 727 BC. the rise of the state began. First of all, the ruler dealt with the Urartian kingdom, having managed to conquer most of the enemy's cities and fortresses. Then there were successful campaigns in Phenicia, Syria, Palestine. The culmination of Tiglapalasar III's activity was the ascent to the Babylonian throne.
The Tsar's military success is directly related to the reforms he was carrying out. So, he reorganized the army, which previously consisted of landowners. Now soldiers were recruited into it, who did not have their own section, and the state assumed all the costs of material support. In fact, Tiglapalasar III became the first king to have a regular army at his disposal. In addition, the use of metal weapons played an important role in the success.
The next ruler Sargon II (721 -705 BC) was destined for the role of the great conqueror. He spent almost all the time of his reign in campaigns, annexing new lands, as well as suppressing uprisings. But the most significant victory of Sargon is the final defeat of the Urartian kingdom.
In general, this state has long been considered the main enemy of Assyria. But the Urartian kings were afraid to fight directly. Therefore, they in every possible way pushed certain peoples dependent on the country of Ashur to revolt. The Cimmerians provided unexpected help to the Assyrians, even if they themselves did not want it. The Urartian king Rusa I suffered a crushing defeat from the nomads and Sargon could not help but use such a gift.
The fall of the god Khaldi
In 714 BC. he decided to put an end to the enemy and moved inland, but crossing the mountains was not easy. In addition, Rusa, thinking that the enemy was heading for Tushpa (the capital of Urartu), began to gather a new army. And Sargon decided not to risk it. Instead of the capital, he attacked the religious center of Urartu - the city of Musasir. This Rusa did not expect, since he was sure that the Assyrians would not dare to desecrate the sanctuary of the god Khaldi. After all, he was honored in the northern part of Assyria. Rusa was so sure of this that he even hid the state treasury in Musasir.
The result is sad. Sargon captured the city and its treasures, and ordered the statue of Khaldi to be sent to his capital. Rusa could not survive such a blow and committed suicide. The Khaldi cult in the country was greatly shaken, and the state itself was on the verge of destruction and no longer posed a threat to Assyria.
Death of the empire
The Assyrian Empire grew. But the policy pursued by its kings in relation to the captured peoples led to constant riots. The destruction of cities, the extermination of the population, the cruel executions of the kings of the defeated peoples - all this aroused hatred of the Assyrians. For example, the son of Sargon, Sinacheherrib (705–681 BC), after the suppression of the rebellion in Babylon, executed part of the population, and deported the rest. He destroyed the city itself and flooded the waters of the Euphrates. And this was an unjustifiably cruel act, because the Babylonians and Assyrians are kindred peoples. Moreover, the former always considered the latter to be their younger brothers. This may have played a role. Sinachherrib decided to get rid of the arrogant "relatives".
Assarhaddon, who came to power after Sinahherrib, rebuilt Babylon, but the situation escalated every year. And even a new surge of the greatness of Assyria under Ashurbanipal (668-631 BC) could not stop the inevitable collapse. After his death, the country plunged into endless strife, which Babylon and Media took advantage of in time, enlisting the support of the Scythians, as well as the Arab princes.
In 614 BC. the Medes destroyed ancient Ashur - the heart of Assyria. The Babylonians did not participate in the capture of the city; according to the official version, they were late. In fact, they simply did not want to participate in the destruction of the shrines of their kindred people.
Two years later, the capital, Nineveh, also fell. And in 605 BC. In the battle of Karkemish, Prince Nebuchadnezzar (who later became famous for his hanging gardens) finished off the Assyrians. The empire perished, but its people did not die, which has retained its self-identity to this day.