Difference between revisions of "Assoria"
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=== Old Ashorian Empire (2025–1522 BC) === | === Old Ashorian Empire (2025–1522 BC) === | ||
| + | Ushpia (2080 BC) was the first fully urbanised independent king of Ashoria and is traditionally held to have dedicated temples to the god Ashur in the city of the same name. He was followed by Sulili, Kikkia and Akia, of whom little is known. | ||
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| + | In c. 2025 BC, a king named Pumarashur I came to the throne of Ashoria, who is debated as to whether he was the founder of a new dynasty or a descendant of Ushpia. He conducted building projects in Ashur, and he and his successors took the title Ishiak Ashur (meaning viceroy of Ashur). Ashoria began to expand trading colonies into the north. He was succeeded by Shalimahum (c. 2000 BC). In addition to the expansions, he appears to have conducted military campaigns in southern Alaia, either in conquest of city-states or in order to protect his fellow Akadian-speakers from incursions by Elamites and/or Amorites. Shalimahum built the old temple of Ishtar in Ashur. | ||
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| + | He was succeeded by the long reigning Erishum I (1973–1934 BC) who is notable for one of the earliest examples of written legal codes. He is known to have greatly expanded Ashorian trading colonies, which traded in textiles, lapis lazuli, iron, antimony, copper, bronze, wool, and grain, in exchange for gold and silver. Erishum also kept numerous written records, and conducted major building works. | ||
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| + | These policies were continued by Ikunum (1933–1921 BC), Sargon I (1920–1881 BC), and Puzurashur II (1880–1873 BC). Naramsin (1872–1828 BC) repelled an attempted usurpation by the future king Shamshiadad I, however his successor Erishum II was deposed by Shamshiadad I in 1809 BC, bringing an end to the dynasty founded either by Ushpia or Puzur-Ashur I. | ||
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| + | Shamshiadad I (1808–1776 BC) was already the ruler of Terka, and although he claimed Ashorian ancestry, he is regarded as a foreign Amorite usurper by later Ashorian tradition. However, he greatly expanded the Old Empire, incorporating the northern half of Alaia and much of the coast into his large empire, and campaigned as far west as the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. His son and successor Ishme-Dagan I (1775–1763 BC) gradually lost territory in southern Mesopotamia and the Levant to the state of Mari and Eshnunna respectively, and had mixed relations with Hammurabi, the king who had turned the hitherto young and insignificant city-state of Babylon into a major power and empire. | ||
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| + | After Shamsi-Adad I's death Assyria was reduced to vassalage by Hammurabi; Mut-Ashkur (1763–1753 BC), Rimush and Asinum were subservient to Hammurabi, who also took ownership of Assyrian trading colonies, thus bringing an end to the Old Assyrian Empire. | ||
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| + | <!--However, the Babylonian empire proved to be short lived, rapidly collapsing after the death of Hammurabi c. 1750 BC. An Assyrian governor named Puzur-Sin deposed Asinum who was regarded as a foreign Amorite and a puppet of the new and ineffectual Babylonian king Sumuabum, and the Babylonian and Amorite presence was expunged from Assyria by Puzur-Sin and his successor Ashur-dugul, who reigned for six years. A king called Adasi (1720–1701 BC) finally restored strength and stability to Assyria, ending the civil unrest that had followed the ejection of the Babylonians and Amorites, founding the new Adaside Dynasty.[52] Bel-bani (1700–1691 BC) succeeded Adasi and further strengthened Assyria against potential threats,[53] and remained a revered figure even in the time of Ashurbanipal over a thousand years later.[54] | ||
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| + | There followed a long, prosperous and peaceful period in Assyrian history, rulers such as Libaya (1691–1674 BC), Sharma-Adad I, Iptar-Sin, Bazaya, Lullaya, Shu-Ninua and Sharma-Adad II appear to have had peaceful and largely uneventful reigns[55] | ||
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| + | Assyria remained strong and secure; when Babylon was sacked and its Amorite rulers deposed by the Hittite Empire and subsequently fell to the Kassites in 1595 BC, both powers were unable to make any inroads into Assyria, and there seems to have been no trouble between the first Kassite ruler of Babylon, Agum II, and Erishum III (1598–1586 BC) of Assyria, and a mutually beneficial treaty was signed between the two rulers. Shamshi-Adad II (1585–1580 BC), Ishme-Dagan II (1579–1562 BC) and Shamshi-Adad III (1562–1548 BC) seem also to have had peaceful tenures, although few records have thus far been discovered about their reigns. Similarly, Ashur-nirari I (1547–1522 BC) seems not to have been troubled by the newly founded Mitanni Empire in Asia Minor, the Hittite empire, or Babylon during his 25-year reign. He and his successor Puzur-Ashur III (1521–1497 BC) are known to have been active kings, improving the infrastructure, dedicating temples and conducting various building projects throughout the kingdom. Enlil-nasir I, Nur-ili, Ashur-shaduni and Ashur-rabi I (who deposed his predecessor) followed.[56] | ||
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| + | Decline, 1450–1393 BC[edit] | ||
| + | The emergence of the Hurri-Mitanni Empire and allied Hittite empire in the 16th century BC did eventually lead to a short period of sporadic Mitannian-Hurrian domination in the latter half of the 15th century BC. The Mitannians (an Indo-Aryan speaking people) are thought to have entered Anatolia from the north, conquered and formed the ruling class over the indigenous Hurrians of eastern Anatolia. The indigenous Hurrians spoke the Hurrian language, a language in the now wholly extinct Hurro-Urartian language family. | ||
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| + | Ashur-nadin-ahhe I (1450–1431 BC) was courted by the Egyptians, who were rivals of Mitanni, and attempting to gain a foothold in the Near East. Amenhotep II sent the Assyrian king a gift of gold to seal an alliance against the Hurri-Mitannian empire. It is likely that this alliance prompted Saushtatar, the emperor of Mitanni, to invade Assyria, and sack the city of Ashur, after which Assyria became a sometime vassal state. Ashur-nadin-ahhe I was deposed, either by Shaustatar or by his own brother Enlil-nasir II (1430–1425 BC) in 1430 BC, who then paid tribute to the Mitanni. Ashur-nirari II (1424–1418 BC) had an uneventful reign and appears to have also paid tribute to the Mitanni Empire. | ||
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| + | The Assyrian monarchy survived, and the Mitannian influence appears to have been short-lived. | ||
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| + | They appear not to have been always willing or indeed able to interfere in Assyrian internal and international affairs. | ||
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| + | Ashur-bel-nisheshu (1417–1409 BC) seems to have been independent of Mitannian influence, as evidenced by his signing a mutually beneficial treaty with Karaindash, the Kassite king of Babylonia in the late 15th century. He also undertook extensive rebuilding work in Ashur itself, and Assyria appears to have redeveloped its former highly sophisticated financial and economic systems during his reign. Ashur-rim-nisheshu (1408–1401 BC) also undertook building work, strengthening the city walls of the capital. Ashur-nadin-ahhe II (1400–1393 BC) also received a gift of gold and diplomatic overtures from Egypt, probably in an attempt to gain Assyrian military support against Egypt's Mitannian and Hittite rivals in the region. However, the Assyrian king appears not to have been in a strong enough position to challenge Mitanni or the Hittites. | ||
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| + | Eriba-Adad I (1392–1366 BC), a son of Ashur-bel-nisheshu, ascended the throne in 1392 BC and finally broke the ties to the Mitanni Empire, and instead turned the tables, and began to exert Assyrian influence on the Mitanni.--> | ||
=== Middle Ashorian Empire (1392–1056 BC) === | === Middle Ashorian Empire (1392–1056 BC) === | ||
=== Ashoria during the Bronze Age Collapse (1200–936 BC) === | === Ashoria during the Bronze Age Collapse (1200–936 BC) === | ||
Revision as of 18:08, 2 August 2021
Ashoria | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| The Ancient Caelean Coast |
|---|
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| Regions and states |
| Archaeological periods |
| Languages |
| Literature |
| Mythology |
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.
Contents
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 western 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).
Old Ashorian Empire (2025–1522 BC)
Ushpia (2080 BC) was the first fully urbanised independent king of Ashoria and is traditionally held to have dedicated temples to the god Ashur in the city of the same name. He was followed by Sulili, Kikkia and Akia, of whom little is known.
In c. 2025 BC, a king named Pumarashur I came to the throne of Ashoria, who is debated as to whether he was the founder of a new dynasty or a descendant of Ushpia. He conducted building projects in Ashur, and he and his successors took the title Ishiak Ashur (meaning viceroy of Ashur). Ashoria began to expand trading colonies into the north. He was succeeded by Shalimahum (c. 2000 BC). In addition to the expansions, he appears to have conducted military campaigns in southern Alaia, either in conquest of city-states or in order to protect his fellow Akadian-speakers from incursions by Elamites and/or Amorites. Shalimahum built the old temple of Ishtar in Ashur.
He was succeeded by the long reigning Erishum I (1973–1934 BC) who is notable for one of the earliest examples of written legal codes. He is known to have greatly expanded Ashorian trading colonies, which traded in textiles, lapis lazuli, iron, antimony, copper, bronze, wool, and grain, in exchange for gold and silver. Erishum also kept numerous written records, and conducted major building works.
These policies were continued by Ikunum (1933–1921 BC), Sargon I (1920–1881 BC), and Puzurashur II (1880–1873 BC). Naramsin (1872–1828 BC) repelled an attempted usurpation by the future king Shamshiadad I, however his successor Erishum II was deposed by Shamshiadad I in 1809 BC, bringing an end to the dynasty founded either by Ushpia or Puzur-Ashur I.
Shamshiadad I (1808–1776 BC) was already the ruler of Terka, and although he claimed Ashorian ancestry, he is regarded as a foreign Amorite usurper by later Ashorian tradition. However, he greatly expanded the Old Empire, incorporating the northern half of Alaia and much of the coast into his large empire, and campaigned as far west as the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. His son and successor Ishme-Dagan I (1775–1763 BC) gradually lost territory in southern Mesopotamia and the Levant to the state of Mari and Eshnunna respectively, and had mixed relations with Hammurabi, the king who had turned the hitherto young and insignificant city-state of Babylon into a major power and empire.
After Shamsi-Adad I's death Assyria was reduced to vassalage by Hammurabi; Mut-Ashkur (1763–1753 BC), Rimush and Asinum were subservient to Hammurabi, who also took ownership of Assyrian trading colonies, thus bringing an end to the Old Assyrian Empire.
