Home Region: Mesopotamia (Southwest Asia)

Neo-Assyrian Empire

911 BCE 612 BCE

D G SC WF R CC

EQ 2020 iq_neo_assyrian_emp / IqNAssr

Preceding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

Succeeding Entity: Add one more here.

626 BCE 539 BCE Neo-Babylonian Empire (iq_neo_babylonian_emp) [None]

612 BCE 539 BCE Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3) [None]

664 BCE 525 BCE Egypt - Saite Period (eg_saite) [secession]

Displayed:

Learn more about polity border choices. Map Modern Map only Opacity Year Play rate (y/s)
Hit enter after changing the year or setting the play rate.

General Description

The Assyrian Empire (911-612 BCE) was a powerful polity that expanded from its heartland in northern Iraq, using the most advanced military technologies of the era: two wheeled chariots, cavalry and an infantry fully converted to iron weapons. ^[1] ^[2]
The most important early ruler was Assurnasirpall II (883-859 BCE) who built the capital Kalhu on the east bank of the Tigris. ^[2] The Assyrian king maintained his presence by establishing “royal cities” with palaces throughout the realm, which he appears to have used on a regular basis. ^[3] The Assyrian capital also changed frequently: the first capital was Ashur (911-859 BCE) and the last was at Ninevah (681-612 BCE). Sharrukin was important between 707-705 BCE.
Despite the constantly moving king and capital the Assyrian government put down literary roots in a state archives ^[4] and perhaps the world’s first organized library was built at Nineveh under Asurbanipal (668-627 BCE). Here scribes copied texts from a 1,000 year old Babylonian literary tradition. These included medical works, mythologies, religious guides and astrology. ^[5] The high level of sophistication the Assyrian civilization achieved is reflected in ruins of water reservoirs and sewerage systems ^[6] , an aqueduct built in Nineveh ^[7] and "traditional Mesopotamian mud-brick architecture ... monumental stone sculptures and wall reliefs." ^[8]
The Assyrian government was the personal project of the king who appointed all officials at the state, regional and local levels as well as the priesthood. ^[9] He was advised by officials called Magnates. ^[9] The king’s provincial governors also lived in palaces ^[3] and were initially direct relations of the king until the reign of Shalmaneser III (r.859-824 BC) who instead made governors directly appointed eunuchs. ^[3] Historians believe governors had a lot of freedom over the day-to-day running of the regions since letters that have been recovered sent from governors to the king primarily concern unforeseeable problems. ^[3]
In the 7th Century population of Mesopotamia reached its height of about 2 million. ^[10] At its height, after Egypt was conquered in 671 CE, combined with south-eastern Anatolia, the Levant region and western Iran, the total population of the tribute-paying empire may have reached 7 million people. ^[11]

[1]: (Dupuy and Dupuy 2007, 10) R Dupuy. Dupuy. 2007. The Collins Encyclopedia of Military History, 4th Edition, BCA.

[2]: (Chadwick 2005, 77) R Chadwick. 2005. First Civilizations: Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, 2nd Edition, Equinox, London.

[3]: (Radler 2014) K Radler. 2014. The Assyrian Empire, c. 900-612 BC. The Emergence of European State Forms in Comparative Perspective - Panel "Imperial States in Time".

[4]: (Westbrook et al. 2003, 887) R Westbrook. G Beckman. R Jasnow. B Levine. M Roth. 2003. A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law. Volume: 2. Brill. Leiden, Netherlands.

[5]: (Davidson 2012, 28) P Davidson. 2012. Atlas of Empires, New Holland, London.

[6]: (Mahmoudian and Mahmoudian 2012, 97) A N Angelakis. L W Mays. D Koutsoyiannis. 2012.Evolution of Water Supply Through the Millennia. IWA Publishing.

[7]: (Chadwick 2005, 83) R Chadwick. 2005. First Civilizations: Ancient Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, 2nd Edition, Equinox, London.

[8]: (Stearns 2001, 27) P Stearns. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History. 6th Edition. James Clarke & Co Ltd. Cambridge.

[9]: (Westbrook et al. 2003, 886-888) R Westbrook. G Beckman. R Jasnow. B Levine. M Roth. 2003. A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law. Volume: 2. Brill. Leiden, Netherlands.

[10]: (Stearns 2001, 28) P Stearns. 2001. The Encyclopedia of World History. 6th Edition. James Clarke & Co Ltd. Cambridge.

[11]: (McEvedy and Jones 1978, 226) Colin McEvedy. Richard Jones. 1978. Atlas of World Population History, Allen Lane, London.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

4 Capital

6 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Peak Years

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

3 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Language

Religion

1 Religion Genus

1 Religion Family

1 Alternate Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

3 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

1 Source Of Support

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Irrigation System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Non Phonetic Writing

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Religious Literature

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

1 Fastest Individual Communication

Information / Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases

1 Crisis Consequence

Power Transitions

20 Power Transition

Instability Events

35 Instability Event

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp) was in:
(729 BCE 721 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia
(721 BCE 627 BCE)	Southern Mesopotamia / Galilee

Home NGA: Southern Mesopotamia

General Variables

Identity and Location Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	38 S	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Original Name	Neo-Assyrian Empire	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Due-Sharrukin	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Ashur	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Kalhu	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Capital	Ninevah	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Late Assyria	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Assyria	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Assyrian Empire	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	New Assyrian Empire	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Land of Ashur	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Alternative Name	Land of Assur	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Temporal Bounds Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Peak Years	668 BCE
Loading...

Duration	[911 BCE ➜ 612 BCE]
Loading...

Political and Cultural Relations Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 626 BCE 539 BCE	Neo-Babylonian Empire (iq_neo_babylonian_emp) [None]
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 612 BCE 539 BCE	Elam III (ir_neo_elam_3) [None]
Loading...

Succeeding Entity 664 BCE 525 BCE	Egypt - Saite Period (eg_saite) [secession]
Loading...

Degree of Centralization	unitary state	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Language Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Language	Aramaic	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Religion Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Religion Genus	Mesopotamian Religions	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Religion Family	Assyrian Religions	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Alternate Religion	Uncoded Undecided	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	10,000 people	911 BCE
Loading...

Population of the Largest Settlement	70,000 people	875 BCE
Loading...

Population of the Largest Settlement	120,000 people	700 BCE
Loading...

Polity Territory	1,400,000 km²	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Polity Population	[5,000,000 to 7,000,000] people	670 CE
Loading...

Hierarchical Complexity Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	6	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Religious Level	3	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Military Level	5	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Administrative Level	[3 to 4]	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Professions Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Professional Priesthood	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Professional Military Officer	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Source Of Support	uncoded Undecided	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Bureaucracy Characteristics Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Merit Promotion	Absent Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Full Time Bureaucrat	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Examination System	Absent Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Law Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Judge	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Formal Legal Code	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Court	Absent Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Specialized Buildings: polity owned Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Irrigation System	Present Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Transport Infrastructure Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Port	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Canal	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Bridge	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Special-purpose Sites Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Information / Writing System Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Script	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Non Phonetic Writing	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Information / Kinds of Written Documents Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Religious Literature	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Lists Tables and Classification	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Fiction	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Calendar	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Information / Money Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Precious Metal	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Paper Currency	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Indigenous Coin	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Foreign Coin	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Article	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Information / Postal System Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

General Postal Service	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Courier	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Fastest Individual Communication	- Undecided	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Information / Measurement System Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Non Mortared	Absent Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Stone Walls Mortared	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Modern Fortification	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moat	Present Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Fortified Camp	Unknown Suspected	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Earth Rampart	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Ditch	Present Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Complex Fortification	Unknown Suspected	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Long Wall	absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Military use of Metals Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Absent Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Iron	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Copper	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Bronze	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Projectiles Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Sling Siege Engine	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Sling	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Self Bow	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Javelin	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Handheld Firearm	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Crossbow	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Composite Bow	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Atlatl	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Handheld weapons Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Unknown Suspected	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Sword	Present Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Spear	Present Inferred	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Battle Axe	Unknown Suspected	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Animals used in warfare Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Elephant	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Dog	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Camel	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Armor Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Shield	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Scaled Armor	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Plate Armor	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Limb Protection	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Leather Cloth	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Laminar Armor	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Helmet	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Chainmail	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Breastplate	Unknown Suspected	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Naval technology Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Present	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent	911 BCE 612 BCE
Loading...

Human Sacrifice Neo-Assyrian Empire (iq_neo_assyrian_emp)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More