Neo-Assyrian Empire | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Map of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and its expansions.
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Capital |
Aššur 911 BC Kalhu 879 BC Dur-Sharrukin 706 BC Nineveh 705 BC Harran 612 BC |
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Languages | Akkadian, Aramaic, Sumerian | |||||||||||||||||||
Religion | Henotheism | |||||||||||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | |||||||||||||||||||
King | ||||||||||||||||||||
• | 911–891 BC | Adad-nirari II (first) | ||||||||||||||||||
• | 612–608 BC | Ashur-uballit II (last) | ||||||||||||||||||
Historical era | Iron Age | |||||||||||||||||||
• | Reign of Adad-nirari II | 911 BC | ||||||||||||||||||
• | Battle of Nineveh | 612 BC | ||||||||||||||||||
• | Fall of Harran | 608 BC | ||||||||||||||||||
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Today part of |
Iraq Syria Turkey Egypt Saudi Arabia Jordan Iran Kuwait Lebanon Israel Cyprus |
Iron Age |
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↑ Bronze Age |
Ancient Near East (1200 BC – 500 BC)
India (1200 BC – 200 BC) Europe (1200 BC – 1 BC)
China (600 BC – 200 BC) Korea (400 BC – 400 AD) Japan (100 BC – 300 AD) Philippines (1000 BC – 200 AD) Vietnam (1000 BC – 630 AD) Sub-Saharan Africa (1000 BC – 800 AD) |
Axial Age |
↓ Ancient history |
Historiography |
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was an Iron Age Mesopotamian empire, in existence between 911 and 612 BC. The Assyrians perfected early techniques of imperial rule, many of which became standard in later empires. Following the conquests of Adad-nirari II in the late 10th century BC, Assyria emerged as the most powerful state in the known world at the time, coming to dominate the Ancient Near East, East Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Caucasus, and parts of the Arabian peninsula and North Africa, eclipsing and conquering rivals such as Babylonia, Elam, Persia, Urartu, Lydia, the Medes, Phrygians, Cimmerians, Israel, Judah, Phoenicia, Chaldea, Canaan, the Kushite Empire, the Arabs, and Egypt. The Neo-Assyrian Empire succeeded the Old Assyrian Empire (C.2025-1378 BC), and the Middle Assyrian Empire (1365-1050 BC) of the Late Bronze Age. During this period, Aramaic was also made an official language of the empire, alongside the Akkadian language.