Difference between revisions of "Assoria"

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|native_name            =
 
|native_name            =
 
|year_start            = 2500 BC
 
|year_start            = 2500 BC
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|year_end              = 609 BC
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|year_end              = 600 BC
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| image_flag            = Ashur symbol Nimrud.png
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| flag_border            = no
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| flag_size              = 250px
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| flag_type              = Symbol of Ashur, the ancient Assorian national deity
 
|p1                    = Akadia
 
|p1                    = Akadia
 
|flag_p1                =
 
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|p2                    =
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|p2                    = Ayreoshubic Empire
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|s1                    = Neo-Babyllonian Empire
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|s1                    = Babylonia
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|flag_s1                = Shamash-sun-symbol (3 rays).svg
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|flag_s1                =  
 
|image_s1              =
 
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|image_flag            =
 
 
|image_coat =
 
|image_coat =
 
|image_map =  
 
|image_map =  
 
|image_map_caption =  
 
|image_map_caption =  
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|capital = [[Ashor]]<br /><small>(2500–1754 BC)</small><br />[[Shubatenlil]]<br /><small>(1754–1681 BC)</small><br />[[Ashor]]<br /><small>(1681–879 BC)</small><br />[[Kalhu]]<br /><small>(879–706 BC)</small><br>[[Dursharrukin]]<br /><small>(706–705 BC)</small><br />[[Nineveh]]<br /><small>(705–612 BC)</small><br>[[Harran]]<br><small>(612–609 BC)</small>
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|capital = Assur
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|common_languages  = [[Akadian language|Akadian]]<br />[[Aramaic]]
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|common_languages  = [[Akadia#Language|Akadian]]<br />[[Aramaic]]
 
|official_languages = {{plainlist|
 
|official_languages = {{plainlist|
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* [[Akadian language|Akadian]]
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* [[Sumeria#Language and writing|Sumerian]]<small> (declining)</small>
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* [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]]
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* [[Akadia#Language|Akadian]]
 
* [[Aramaic]]}}
 
* [[Aramaic]]}}
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|religion = [[Ancient Alaian religion]]
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|religion =  
 
|government_type = Monarchy
 
|government_type = Monarchy
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|title_leader = [[Kings of Assoria|King]]
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|title_leader = King
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|year_leader1 = c. 2500 BC
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|year_leader1 =  
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|leader1 = [[Tudia]] (first)
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|leader1 =  
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|year_leader2  = 612–609 BC
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|year_leader2  =
−
|leader2 = [[Ashoruballit II]] (last)
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|leader2 =  
 
|era = Bronze Age
 
|era = Bronze Age
 
|event_start  =  
 
|event_start  =  
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|date_start =
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|date_start =  
 
|event1 =
 
|event1 =
 
|date_event1 =
 
|date_event1 =
 
|event_end  =  
 
|event_end  =  
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|date_end  = 612 BC
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|date_end  =  
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|currency  = Mina
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|currency  =  
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|stat_area1  = 194,249
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|stat_area1  =  
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|demonym= Assorian, Ashorean
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|demonym= Assorian, Ashurian}}
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|area_km2=|area_rank=|GDP_PPP=|GDP_PPP_year=|HDI=|HDI_year=}}
 
 
{{Template:Ancient Caelean Coast topic}}
 
{{Template:Ancient Caelean Coast topic}}
  
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'''Assoria''', also known as '''Ashuria''' and called the '''Assorian Empire''', was an [[Alaia|Alaian]] kingdom and empire of the [[Ancient Caelean Coast]], which existed as early as the 25th century BC (in the form of the city-state of Ashur) until its collapse between 612 BC and 609 BC, that is, from the early Bronze Age to late Iron Age. This vast period is divided into the Early Period (2500-2025 BC), Old Assorian Empire (2025-1378 BC), Middle Assorian Empire (1392-934 BC) and Neo-Assorian Empire (911-609 BC).
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'''Assoria''', also known as '''Ashuria''', was an [[Alaia|Alaian]] kingdom and empire on the [[Ancient Caelean Coast]], which existed as early as the 25th century BCE (in the form of the city-state of Assur) until its collapse in 600 BCE. This vast period is divided into the Early Period (2500-1900 BCE), Old Assorian Kingdom (1900-1580 BCE), Middle Assorian Empire (1580-900 BCE) and Neo-Assorian Empire (900-600 BCE). From 600 BCE following the fall of the Neo-Assorian Empire until the 14th century AD,<!--?--> Assoria survived as a geopolitical entity dominated by foreign powers, including [[Babylonia]] and the [[Romanyan Empire]].  
  
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From the end of the 7th century BC (when the Neo-Assorian state fell) to the 7th century AD it survived as a geopolitical entity dominated by foreign powers such as the V and X. Between the 2nd century BC and the late 3rd century AD a number of independent Assorian states emerged such as Adiabene, Osroene, Beth Nuhadra and Beth Garmai. In the latter part of this period, Alaia became an important center of [[Sorian Christianity]]. Terranilics, Romanyans, and later Arabs took control of the Assorian lands.
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Assoria was a Semitic-speaking nation. From the Early Period until beginning of the Middle Assorian Empire, the common language was the Assorian dialect of [[Akadia#Language|Akadian]]. [[Aramaic]] rose to prominence during the Neo-Assorian Empire.
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As a Semitic-speaking nation, Assoria was was centered on the Alaius. The Assorians came to rule powerful empires in several periods. Making up a substantial part of the larger Alanian "cradle of civilization," which also included [[Sumeria]], [[Akadia]], and [[Babillonia]], Assoria reached the pinnacle of the technological, scientific, and cultural achievements of their time.
 
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The name "Assoria" is derived from the original capital of the Assorian state, the ancient city of Ashur, which dates back to c. 2600 BC. It is originally one of several Akadian-speaking city-states.
 
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The remnants of the Assorian people (now almost exclusively Christians) gradually became an ethnic, linguistic, cultural and religious minority in the Assorian homeland and survive there to this day as an indigenous people of the region.
 
  
 
== Name ==
 
== Name ==
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Assoria was also sometimes known as ''Subartu'' and ''Azuhinum'' prior to the rise of the city-state of Ashur, after which it became Ashurayu.
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The name "Assoria" is derived from the original capital of the Assorian state, the ancient city of Assur, which dates back to c. 2500 BC. The city Assur shared the same name as the national deity Ashur.  
  
 
== Pre-history ==
 
== Pre-history ==
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In prehistoric times, the region that was to become known as Assoria (and Subartu) was home to Neanderthal cultures.  
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In prehistoric times, the region that was to become known as Assoria was home to Neanderthal cultures. The Akadian-speaking people who would eventually found Assoria entered Alaia at some point during the late 4th millennium BCE (c. 3500–3000 BC), intermingling with the earlier Sumerian-speakers, who came from the north.  
  
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The [[Akadia#Language|Akadian]]-speaking people (the earliest historically-attested Semitic-speaking people) who would eventually found Assoria entered Alaia at some point during the late 4th millennium BC (c. 3500–3000 BC), intermingling with the earlier Sumerian-speakers, who came from the north.
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The city of c, among others, existed since before c. 2500 BCE, although it was ruled by other Sumerian city-states. According to the Biblical generations of Noah, in Genesis chapter 10, the city of Assur was founded by Ashur the son of Shem. However, the much older attested Assorian tradition itself lists the first king of Assoria as the 25th century BCE Tudia. It is highly likely that the city was named in honour of its patron Assorian god with the same name.
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The city of Ashur, among others, existed since before c. 2600 BC, although it was ruled by other Sumerian city-states.  
 
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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 Assorian tradition itself lists the first king of Assoria as the 25th century BC Tudiya. It is highly likely that the city was named in honour of its patron Assorian god with the same name.
 
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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=== Early Period (2600–2025 BC) ===
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=== Early Period (2500–1900 BCE) ===
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The city of Ashur, with several other Assorian cities, were established by 2600 BC. They were likely initially Sumerian-dominated administrative centres. Little is known about the early history of the kingdom of Assoria. The earliest Assorian 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.
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The city of Assur, with several other Assorian cities, were established by 2500 BC. They were likely initially Sumerian-dominated administrative centres. Little is known about the early history of the city-state of Assoria. The earliest Assorian king recorded was Tudia.  
  
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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.
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==== Akadian Empire (2300–2100 BCE) ====
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During the [[Akadia|Akadian Empire]] (2300–2100 BCE), the Assorians, like all Semitic Alaians as well as Sumerians, became subject to the dynasty of the city-state of Akad. The Sumerians were eventually absorbed into the Akadian (Assorian-Babillonian) population.
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[[File:Akadia map.png|thumb|right|250px|Map of the Akadian Empire.]]
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Assorian rulers were subject to Sargon the Great and his successors, and the city of Assur became a regional administrative center of the Empire. Assorian traders spread the use of writing in the form of the Alaian cuneiform script to Kavarda and the Zahjeddah. However, towards the end of the reign of Sargon, Assoria rebelled against him.
  
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=== Akadia and Neo-Sumerian Empires (2334–2050 BC) ===
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==== Ayreoshubic Empire (2100-1900 BCE)====
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During the [[Akadia|Akadian Empire]] (2334–2154 BC), the Assorians, like all Semitic Alaians as well as Sumerians, became subject to the dynasty of the city-state of Akad. The Sumerians were eventually absorbed into the Akadian (Assorian-Babillonian) population.
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The Akadian Empire was conquered by the [[Ayreoshubic Empire]] in 2100 BCE, so Assoria was under Ayreoshubic rule.  
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[[File:Akadia map.png|thumb|left|250px|Map of the Akadian Empire.]]
 
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Assorian rulers were subject to Sargon the Great and his successors, and the city of Ashur became a regional administrative center of the Empire. Assoria 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).
 
  
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Assorian 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 Sargon, the Assorian faction rebelled against him.
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=== Old Assorian Kingdom (1900–1580 BCE) ===
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Ushpia was the first fully independent king of Assoria and is traditionally held to have dedicated temples to the god Ashur in the city of the same name. In c. 1850 BCE, Pumarashur I came to the throne of Assoria and conducted building projects in Assur. Assoria began to expand trading colonies into the north. He also conducted military campaigns in southern Alaia, in conquest of city-states and to protect his fellow Akadian-speakers from incursions by Elamites and Amorites.
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[[File:KültepeUnterstadt1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Excavated ruins of an Old Assorian trading site]]He was succeeded by the long reigning Erishum I (1825–1785 BCE) who is notable for one of the earliest examples of written legal codes. These policies were continued by the following kings. King Shamshiadad I (1670–1650 BC), although he claimed Assorian ancestry, is regarded as a foreign Amorite usurper by later Assorian tradition. However, he greatly expanded the Old Kingdom, incorporating the northern half of Alaia and much of the coast into his empire. After Ishmedagan I's death Assoria was reduced to vassalage by Hammurabi. The folowing three Assorian kings were subservient to Hammurabi, who also took ownership of Assorian trading colonies, thus bringing an end to the Old Assorian Kingdom in 1630 BCE.
  
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The Akadian Empire was destroyed by economic decline and civil war, followed by attacks from barbarian Gutian people in 2154 BC. The rulers of Assoria between c. 2154 BC and 2112 BC once again became fully independent, as the Gutians only administered western Alaia.
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=== Middle Assorian Empire (1580-900 BCE) ===
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However, Babylonian rule proved short lived, with it rapidly collapsing after the death of Hammurabi c. 1590 BCE. An Assorian governor named Puzursin deposed a foreign Amorite puppet of the new Babylonian king. A king called Adasi (1550–1530 BCE) finally restored strength and stability to Assoria, ending the civil unrest that had followed the ejection of the Babylonians and Amorites.
  
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Most of Assoria briefly became part of the Neo-Sumerian Empire (or 3rd dynasty of Ur) founded in c. 2112 BC. Sumerian domination extended as far as the city of Ashur. Ashur's rulers appear to have remained largely under Sumerian domination until the mid-21st century BC (c. 2050 BC).
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There followed a long, prosperous and peaceful period in Assorian history from about 1500 to 1350 BCE. Mutiple rulers had peaceful and relatively uneventful reigns. Assoria entered a period of decline and civil unrest in which it lost much of its peripheral holldings. However, the command of several strong king led to the retaking of these territories by 1100 BCE. The Empire continued to gradually expand. In 1000 BCE, Assoria and Babylonia engaged in wars for about a century until Assoria conquered its rival in 900 BCE.
  
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=== Old Assorian Empire (2025–1522 BC) ===
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=== Neo-Assorian Empire (900-600 BCE) ===
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Ushpia (2080 BC) was the first fully urbanised independent king of Assoria 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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[[File:Nimrud - Neo-Assyrian king.png|thumb|right|200px|Relief depicting a Neo-Assorian king]]
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Tiglathpileser III (r. 910–897 BC) consolidated and centralized the holdings of the empire while also warring with Babylonia. His military conquests more than doubled the extent of Assorian territory. The most significant conquests were the vassalization of the Caelean coast all the way to the Alaqan border and the 900 BCE conquest of Babylonia, which marks the beginning of the Neo-Assorian Empire.  
  
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In c. 2025 BC, a king named Pumarashur I came to the throne of Assoria, 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). Assoria 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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The Empire reached the height of its size and power under the Sargonid dynasty, founded by Sargon II (r. 875–858 BCE). The 780 BCE conquest of Alaqa under Esarhaddon (785–772 BCE) brought Assoria to its greatest ever extent. After the death of Ashurbanipal (663–625 BCE), the Neo-Assorian Empire swiftly collapsed. One of the main reasons was the inability of the kings to resolve the consistent Babylonian revolts throughout Sargonid rule. The revolt of Babylon under Nabopolassar in 615 BCE led to the Babylonian conquest of the Assorian Empire. Assur was sacked in 605 BCE.
  
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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 Assorian 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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=== Later history ===
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Despite many revolts, Assoria remained under Babylonian until the Neo-Babyonian Empire was conquered by the Tundren Empire in 500 BCE. It then was vassalized by the Tundrens who ruled Assoria until the Romanyan conquest of Alaia in 60 BCE. Assoria was part of the Romanyan province of Alaia under the Romanyans until 630 CE. <!--Then the Mutadinun Caliphate conquered Alaia...-->
  
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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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== Culture ==
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=== Languages ===
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The ancient Assorians primarily spoke and wrote the Assorian language, a Semitic language closely related to Babylonian. Both Assorians and Babylonian are dialects of the Akadian language, though ancient authors considered them to be two separate languages. Assorian was written with cuneiform script.
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[[File:Cuneiform tablet- caravan account MET DP-13441-005.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Assorian cuneiform tablet of an account of a caravan journey]]
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Because the Assorians never imposed their language on foreign peoples who they conquered, languages other than Akadian were able to spread. The migration of Arameans into Assoria during the Middle Assorian period facilitated the spread of the Aramaic language. As the most widely spoken and mutually understandable of the Semitic languages, Aramaic grew in importance throughout the Neo-Assorian period and increasingly replaced the Assorian language. From the 8th century BCE onwards, Aramaic became the de facto lingua franca of the Neo-Assorian Empire, with Assorian becoming a language of the political elite.
  
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Shamshiadad I (1808–1776 BC) was already the ruler of Terka, and although he claimed Assorian ancestry, he is regarded as a foreign Amorite usurper by later Assorian 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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The [[Sumeria#Language and writing|Sumerian language]] was used as a language of scholarship and culture, though only in written form.
  
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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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=== Religion ===
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The main Assorian deity was Ashur. Though the deity and city are commonly distinguished by modern historians by calling the god Ashur and the city Assur, both were inscribed in the same way in ancient times. In documents from the Old Assorian period, the city and god are often not clearly differentiated, which suggests that Ashur originated as a deified personification of the city. The other Alaian deities were organized in a hierarchy below Ashur, having their own roles and primary seats of worship. Assorian deities were generally also worshipped by Babylonians.
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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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Ashur's role was flexible and changed with the changing culture and politics of the Assorians. In the Old Assorian period, Ashur was mainly regarded as a god of death and revival. Under the Middle and Neo-Assorian Empire, Ashur's role was altered to a god of war, who bestowed the Assorian kings with divine legitimacy and commanded the kings to expand Assoria through conquest.
  
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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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Assorian religion was centered in temples that included a central shrine and statue. Temples typically had their own resources, land holdings, and hierarchically organized personnel. Unlike many other ancient empires, the Neo-Assorian Empire did not impose its culture and religion on conquered peoples. After the fall of the Neo-Assorian Empire, the Assorians continued to venerate Ashur and the rest of the pantheon, though without the Assorian state.  
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Decline, 1450–1393 BC[edit]
 
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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.-->
 
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=== Middle Assorian Empire (1392–1056 BC) ===
 
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=== Assoria during the Bronze Age Collapse (1200–936 BC) ===
 
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=== Neo-Assorian Empire ===
 
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== Culture ==
 
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=== Language ===
 
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=== Religion ===
 
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==== Ancient Assorian religion ====
 
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==== Christianity ====
 
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=== Architecture ===
 
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=== Art and sciences ===
 
  
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{{Template:Terranihil topics}}
  
 
[[Category:Terraconserva]]
 
[[Category:Terraconserva]]

Latest revision as of 20:24, 2 September 2022

Assoria

2500 BC–600 BC
Flag of Assoria
Symbol of Ashur, the ancient Assorian national deity
CapitalAssur
Official languages
Common languagesAkadian
Aramaic
Demonym(s)Assorian, Ashurian
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
Historical eraBronze Age
• Established
2500 BC
• Disestablished
600 BC
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Akadia
Ayreoshubic Empire
Babylonia
The Ancient Caelean Coast
Relief on the Ishtar Gate, Pergamenmuseum 4.jpg
Regions and states

Alaia

Alaqa

Malgax

Judea

Archaeological periods
Languages
Literature
Mythology

Assoria, also known as Ashuria, was an Alaian kingdom and empire on the Ancient Caelean Coast, which existed as early as the 25th century BCE (in the form of the city-state of Assur) until its collapse in 600 BCE. This vast period is divided into the Early Period (2500-1900 BCE), Old Assorian Kingdom (1900-1580 BCE), Middle Assorian Empire (1580-900 BCE) and Neo-Assorian Empire (900-600 BCE). From 600 BCE following the fall of the Neo-Assorian Empire until the 14th century AD, Assoria survived as a geopolitical entity dominated by foreign powers, including Babylonia and the Romanyan Empire.

Assoria was a Semitic-speaking nation. From the Early Period until beginning of the Middle Assorian Empire, the common language was the Assorian dialect of Akadian. Aramaic rose to prominence during the Neo-Assorian Empire.

Name

The name "Assoria" is derived from the original capital of the Assorian state, the ancient city of Assur, which dates back to c. 2500 BC. The city Assur shared the same name as the national deity Ashur.

Pre-history

In prehistoric times, the region that was to become known as Assoria was home to Neanderthal cultures. The Akadian-speaking people who would eventually found Assoria entered Alaia at some point during the late 4th millennium BCE (c. 3500–3000 BC), intermingling with the earlier Sumerian-speakers, who came from the north.

The city of c, among others, existed since before c. 2500 BCE, although it was ruled by other Sumerian city-states. According to the Biblical generations of Noah, in Genesis chapter 10, the city of Assur was founded by Ashur the son of Shem. However, the much older attested Assorian tradition itself lists the first king of Assoria as the 25th century BCE Tudia. It is highly likely that the city was named in honour of its patron Assorian god with the same name.

History

Early Period (2500–1900 BCE)

The city of Assur, with several other Assorian cities, were established by 2500 BC. They were likely initially Sumerian-dominated administrative centres. Little is known about the early history of the city-state of Assoria. The earliest Assorian king recorded was Tudia.

Akadian Empire (2300–2100 BCE)

During the Akadian Empire (2300–2100 BCE), the Assorians, like all Semitic Alaians as well as Sumerians, became subject to the dynasty of the city-state of Akad. The Sumerians were eventually absorbed into the Akadian (Assorian-Babillonian) population.

Map of the Akadian Empire.

Assorian rulers were subject to Sargon the Great and his successors, and the city of Assur became a regional administrative center of the Empire. Assorian traders spread the use of writing in the form of the Alaian cuneiform script to Kavarda and the Zahjeddah. However, towards the end of the reign of Sargon, Assoria rebelled against him.

Ayreoshubic Empire (2100-1900 BCE)

The Akadian Empire was conquered by the Ayreoshubic Empire in 2100 BCE, so Assoria was under Ayreoshubic rule.

Old Assorian Kingdom (1900–1580 BCE)

Ushpia was the first fully independent king of Assoria and is traditionally held to have dedicated temples to the god Ashur in the city of the same name. In c. 1850 BCE, Pumarashur I came to the throne of Assoria and conducted building projects in Assur. Assoria began to expand trading colonies into the north. He also conducted military campaigns in southern Alaia, in conquest of city-states and to protect his fellow Akadian-speakers from incursions by Elamites and Amorites.

Excavated ruins of an Old Assorian trading site

He was succeeded by the long reigning Erishum I (1825–1785 BCE) who is notable for one of the earliest examples of written legal codes. These policies were continued by the following kings. King Shamshiadad I (1670–1650 BC), although he claimed Assorian ancestry, is regarded as a foreign Amorite usurper by later Assorian tradition. However, he greatly expanded the Old Kingdom, incorporating the northern half of Alaia and much of the coast into his empire. After Ishmedagan I's death Assoria was reduced to vassalage by Hammurabi. The folowing three Assorian kings were subservient to Hammurabi, who also took ownership of Assorian trading colonies, thus bringing an end to the Old Assorian Kingdom in 1630 BCE.

Middle Assorian Empire (1580-900 BCE)

However, Babylonian rule proved short lived, with it rapidly collapsing after the death of Hammurabi c. 1590 BCE. An Assorian governor named Puzursin deposed a foreign Amorite puppet of the new Babylonian king. A king called Adasi (1550–1530 BCE) finally restored strength and stability to Assoria, ending the civil unrest that had followed the ejection of the Babylonians and Amorites.

There followed a long, prosperous and peaceful period in Assorian history from about 1500 to 1350 BCE. Mutiple rulers had peaceful and relatively uneventful reigns. Assoria entered a period of decline and civil unrest in which it lost much of its peripheral holldings. However, the command of several strong king led to the retaking of these territories by 1100 BCE. The Empire continued to gradually expand. In 1000 BCE, Assoria and Babylonia engaged in wars for about a century until Assoria conquered its rival in 900 BCE.

Neo-Assorian Empire (900-600 BCE)

Relief depicting a Neo-Assorian king

Tiglathpileser III (r. 910–897 BC) consolidated and centralized the holdings of the empire while also warring with Babylonia. His military conquests more than doubled the extent of Assorian territory. The most significant conquests were the vassalization of the Caelean coast all the way to the Alaqan border and the 900 BCE conquest of Babylonia, which marks the beginning of the Neo-Assorian Empire.

The Empire reached the height of its size and power under the Sargonid dynasty, founded by Sargon II (r. 875–858 BCE). The 780 BCE conquest of Alaqa under Esarhaddon (785–772 BCE) brought Assoria to its greatest ever extent. After the death of Ashurbanipal (663–625 BCE), the Neo-Assorian Empire swiftly collapsed. One of the main reasons was the inability of the kings to resolve the consistent Babylonian revolts throughout Sargonid rule. The revolt of Babylon under Nabopolassar in 615 BCE led to the Babylonian conquest of the Assorian Empire. Assur was sacked in 605 BCE.

Later history

Despite many revolts, Assoria remained under Babylonian until the Neo-Babyonian Empire was conquered by the Tundren Empire in 500 BCE. It then was vassalized by the Tundrens who ruled Assoria until the Romanyan conquest of Alaia in 60 BCE. Assoria was part of the Romanyan province of Alaia under the Romanyans until 630 CE.

Culture

Languages

The ancient Assorians primarily spoke and wrote the Assorian language, a Semitic language closely related to Babylonian. Both Assorians and Babylonian are dialects of the Akadian language, though ancient authors considered them to be two separate languages. Assorian was written with cuneiform script.

Assorian cuneiform tablet of an account of a caravan journey

Because the Assorians never imposed their language on foreign peoples who they conquered, languages other than Akadian were able to spread. The migration of Arameans into Assoria during the Middle Assorian period facilitated the spread of the Aramaic language. As the most widely spoken and mutually understandable of the Semitic languages, Aramaic grew in importance throughout the Neo-Assorian period and increasingly replaced the Assorian language. From the 8th century BCE onwards, Aramaic became the de facto lingua franca of the Neo-Assorian Empire, with Assorian becoming a language of the political elite.

The Sumerian language was used as a language of scholarship and culture, though only in written form.

Religion

The main Assorian deity was Ashur. Though the deity and city are commonly distinguished by modern historians by calling the god Ashur and the city Assur, both were inscribed in the same way in ancient times. In documents from the Old Assorian period, the city and god are often not clearly differentiated, which suggests that Ashur originated as a deified personification of the city. The other Alaian deities were organized in a hierarchy below Ashur, having their own roles and primary seats of worship. Assorian deities were generally also worshipped by Babylonians.

Ashur's role was flexible and changed with the changing culture and politics of the Assorians. In the Old Assorian period, Ashur was mainly regarded as a god of death and revival. Under the Middle and Neo-Assorian Empire, Ashur's role was altered to a god of war, who bestowed the Assorian kings with divine legitimacy and commanded the kings to expand Assoria through conquest.

Assorian religion was centered in temples that included a central shrine and statue. Temples typically had their own resources, land holdings, and hierarchically organized personnel. Unlike many other ancient empires, the Neo-Assorian Empire did not impose its culture and religion on conquered peoples. After the fall of the Neo-Assorian Empire, the Assorians continued to venerate Ashur and the rest of the pantheon, though without the Assorian state.

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