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The '''Assyrians''' were an ancient people, possibly related to the Akkadians, who, at their greatest period of power - between the 9th and 7th centuries B.C. - controlled an empire that covered most of civilised south western Asia and Egypt. They are known for their military might, administrative efficiency, architecture and sculpture , and were feared for their brutality.

The '''Assyrians''' were an ancient people, possibly related to the Akkadians, who, at their greatest period of power - between the 9th and 7th centuries B.C. - controlled an empire that covered most of civilised south western Asia and Egypt. They are known for their military might, administrative efficiency, architecture and sculpture , and were feared for their brutality.

They entered history as a [[Bronze Age]] trading people, based around their capital Assur, (south of what is now [[Mosul]] in northern [[Iraq]] and part of the hegemony of their southern cousins based in Babylon. Assyrian trading posts from this period have been found as far a-field a western Turkey. In the later Bronze Age they were at various times within the ambit of [[Mitanni]] and [[Hittite]] influence; and when the folk-migrations known as the movement of the [[Sea Peoples]] in the late 12th century overturned the Hittites and weakened Egypt, the Assyrians – using iron weapons - began to move into the vacuum. Ninevah and Nimrud became co-capitals, although Assur remained the religious centre.  

They entered history as a [[Bronze Age]] trading people, based around their capital Assur, (south of what is now Mosul in northern [[Iraq]] and part of the hegemony of their southern cousins based in Babylon. Assyrian trading posts from this period have been found as far a-field a western Turkey. In the later Bronze Age they were at various times within the ambit of Mitanni and [[Hittite]] influence; and when the folk-migrations known as the movement of the [[Sea Peoples]] in the late 12th century overturned the Hittites and weakened Egypt, the Assyrians – using iron weapons - began to move into the vacuum. Ninevah and Nimrud became co-capitals, although Assur remained the religious centre.  

Their period of rapid expansion and widespread control began in the early 9th century with the military campaigns of Ashurnasipal II (r.883-859 B.C.) and at its greatest extent  included present day Iraq, western [[Iran]], all of [[Syria]] and the lands of the [[Hebrew]]s, eastern [[Turkey]] and Egypt. They developed the art of siege craft (including the first recorded use of the battering ram) to levels not improved on until the [[Roman]]s and organised their army in a way not seen before (including the use of demountable chariots for transportation over rough terrain. They used terror, capable administration, and enforced migration to control their vassals. Their domination was an endless succession of wars as they expanded or maintained their empire.

Their period of rapid expansion and widespread control began in the early 9th century with the military campaigns of Ashurnasipal II (r.883-859 B.C.) and at its greatest extent  included present day Iraq, western [[Iran]], all of [[Syria]] and the lands of the [[Hebrew]]s, eastern [[Turkey]] and Egypt. They developed the art of siege craft (including the first recorded use of the battering ram) to levels not improved on until the [[Roman]]s and organised their army in a way not seen before (including the use of demountable chariots for transportation over rough terrain. They used terror, capable administration, and enforced migration to control their vassals. Their domination was an endless succession of wars as they expanded or maintained their empire.