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Siege Warfare: Rise and Fall of the Assyrian Empire

Explore the militaristic culture of the Assyrian Empire, their military inventions, siege warfare tactics, governance strategies, and ultimate downfall, revealing complexities of ancient warfare.

robertlrussell
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Siege Warfare: Rise and Fall of the Assyrian Empire

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  1. Day 6 Warm-Up • Your civilization is located in a poorly defensible area which has caused you to suffer from frequent invasions. • How would this affect your culture? • Conquer or be conquered • Violent people • Specialize in warfare • Glorify war in art & literature

  2. The Age of Empires Assyrian Empire

  3. Assyria • Where was their homeland? • North Mesopotamia (modern day ____) • What was the region like? • Flat fertile plain • Vulnerable • Suffered  frequent invasions • How would this affect their culture? • Militarism  main policy of the state

  4. Empire • Greatest power in Southwest Asia • 883 to 612 BCE • Large empire b/c • Highly advanced & organized _______ • Army

  5. Military Inventions • Corps of engineer • Bridged rivers w/ pontoons • Undermine city walls • Battering rams (iron tipped) • Knock down walls & gates • Siege towers •  Masters of siege warfare 

  6. Siege Warfare

  7. Siege Warfare • 1st step? • Surround settlement • Why? • Cut off supplies • Starve them or weaken • 2nd Step: • Attack • Archers  shower of missiles • Tunnel &/or batter the walls • Once inside: • No mercy • Killed or enslaved their victims • Forced resettlement to distant provinces • Prevent ________ • Rebellion

  8. Siege Warfare

  9. Siege Warfare From the Palace of Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 BCE) at Nimrud

  10. Terror as a weapon

  11. Governing • Effectively governed an extended empire • Dependent regions (conquered lands) • Assyrians either picked • the ruler • supported local kings • As long as they were loyal to Assyria • local leaders  report to the central authority = king • Conquered lands provided • taxes & tribute • What would happen if they refused to pay? • Destroy the city & people were sent into exile

  12. King Ashurbanipal • Self-celebrated ruler • Built library at Nineveh • Intimate with gods • But not divine

  13. Captives & their animals are being driven out of Ashtaroth

  14. Lion Hunt

  15. Culture • Decorated kings’ palaces • Placed in doorways as protective entities

  16. Culture • Winged bulls • Guarded palace doorways • “Repulse the wicked” • aka = evil spirits • Two pairs of horns • Divinity • 5 legs • Height • 14 ½ feet

  17. This is the End! • Over extended • Too far too thin • Cruelty created enemies • 612 BCE Medes & Chaldeans sacked Nineveh

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