Assoria

Ashoria
2500 BC–609 BC
Capital	Ashor (2500–1754 BC) Shubatenlil (1754–1681 BC) Ashor (1681–879 BC) Kalhu (879–706 BC) Dursharrukin (706–705 BC) Nineveh (705–612 BC) Harran (612–609 BC)
Official languages	Akadian Sagigan Aramaic
Common languages	Akadian Aramaic
Religion	Ancient Alaian religion
Demonym(s)	Ashorian, Ashorean
Government	Monarchy
King
• c. 2500 BC	Tudia (first)
• 612–609 BC	Ashoruballit II (last)
Historical era	Bronze Age
• Established	2500 BC
• Disestablished	612 BC 609 BC
Area
194,249 km2 (75,000 sq mi)
Currency	Mina
Preceded by Succeeded by Akadia Neo-Babyllonian Empire

Ashoria, also known as Ashuria and called the Ashorian Empire, was an Alaian kingdom and empire of the Ancient Caelean Coast that existed as early as the 25th century BC (in the form of the Ashur city-state) until its collapse between 612 BC and 609 BC, thus spanning from the early Bronze Age through to the late Iron Age. This vast span of time is divided into the Early Period (2500–2025 BC), Old Ashorian Empire (2025–1378 BC), Middle Ashorian Empire (1392–934 BC) and Neo-Ashorian Empire (911–609 BC).

From the end of the 7th century BC (when the Neo-Ashorian state fell) to the 7th century AD, it survived as a geopolitical entity ruled by foreign powers such as the V and X. Between the 2nd century BC and late 3rd century AD, a number of independent Ashorian states such as Adiabene, Osroene, Beth Nuhadra and Beth Garmai arose. The final part of this period saw Alaia become a major center of Sorian Christianity. Terranilics, Romanyans, and subsequently Arabs also took over control of the Ashorian lands.

A Semitic-speaking nation, Ashoria was centered on the Alaius. The Ashorians came to rule powerful empires in several periods. Making up a substantial part of the greater Alaian "cradle of civilization", which included Sagiga, Akadia, and Babillonia, Ashoria reached the height of technological, scientific and cultural achievements for its time.

The name "Ashoria" originates with the Ashorian state's original capital, the ancient city of Ashur, which dates to c. 2600 BC. It is originally one of a number of Akadian-speaking city-states.

The remnants of the Ashorian people (by now almost all Christians) gradually became an ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious minority in the Ashorian homeland, surviving there to this day as an indigenous people of the region.

Name

Ashoria was also sometimes known as Subartu and Azuhinum prior to the rise of the city-state of Ashur, after which it became Ashurayu.

Pre-history

In prehistoric times, the region that was to become known as Ashoria (and Subartu) was home to Neanderthal cultures.

The Akadian-speaking people (the earliest historically-attested Semitic-speaking people) who would eventually found Ashoria entered Alaia at some point during the late 4th millennium BC (c. 3500–3000 BC), intermingling with the earlier Sagigan-speakers, who came from the north.

The city of Ashur, among others, existed since before c. 2600 BC, although it was ruled by other Sagigan city-states.

According to the Biblical generations of Noah, in Genesis chapter 10, the city of Ashur was allegedly founded by Ashur the son of Shem. However, the much older attested Ashorian tradition itself lists the first king of Ashoria as the 25th century BC Tudiya. It is highly likely that the city was named in honour of its patron Ashorian god with the same name.

History

Early Period (2600–2025 BC)

The city of Ashur, with several other Ashorian cities, were established by 2600 BC. They were likely initially Sagigan-dominated administrative centres. Little is known about the early history of the kingdom of Ashoria. The earliest Ashorian king recorded was Tudia who lived c. 2450 BC. Archaeological findings confirm Tudia's activities with the discovery of a tablet in which he signs a treaty for a trading colony. Tudia was succeeded by Adamu, the first known reference to the Semitic name Adam, and then thirteen further rulers.

The earliest kings lived in tents and were independent semi-nomadic pastoralist rulers. They became fully urbanised and founded the city state of Ashur in the mid 21st-century BC.

Akadia and Neo-Sagigan Empires (2334–2050 BC)

During the Akadian Empire (2334–2154 BC), the Ashorians, like all Semitic Alaians as well as Sagigans, became subject to the dynasty of the city-state of Akad. The Sagigans were eventually absorbed into the Akadian (Ashorian-Babillonian) population.

Ashorian rulers were subject to Sarugan the Great and his successors, and the city of Ashur became a regional administrative center of the Empire. Ashoria seems to have already been firmly involved in trade with Malgax. The earliest known reference to Malgax was found on cuneiform tablets describing the early period of the Akadian Empire (c. 2350 BC).

Ashorian and Akadian traders spread the use of writing in the form of the Alaian cuneiform script to Malgax and the Zahjeddah. However, towards the end of the reign of Sarugan, the Ashorian faction rebelled against him.

The Akadian Empire was destroyed by economic decline and civil war, followed by attacks from barbarian Gutian people in 2154 BC. The rulers of Ashoria between c. 2154 BC and 2112 BC once again became fully independent, as the Gutians only administered eastern Alaia.

Most of Ashoria briefly became part of the Neo-Sagigan Empire (or 3rd dynasty of Ur) founded in c. 2112 BC. Sagigan domination extended as far as the city of Ashur. Ashur's rulers appear to have remained largely under Sagigan domination until the mid-21st century BC (c. 2050 BC).