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| City of Aššūr 𒌷𒀸𒋩𒆠 | |
|---|---|
| 2025 BCE–1364 BCE | |
 Assyria (blue) in 1800 BCE | |
| Capital | Aššūr |
| Official languages | Akkadian |
| Common languages | Amorite Hurrian |
| Dominant mode of production | Slavery |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy |
| History | |
• Established | 2025 BCE |
• Dissolution | 1364 BCE |
The City of Aššūr, commonly known as Assyria, was an ancient city-state in northern Mesopotamia.[1]
Background[edit | edit source]
The city of Aššūr (Assyria) was founded in the early third millennium BCE on the right bank of the Tigris. Sumerians and Akkadians established a trading station there during the middle of the millennium. It became a major administrative city in the Akkadian Empire and was ruled by governors of the Sumerian kings during the Third Dynasty of Ur.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Around 1800 BCE, King Šamšīaddu I, the son of an Amorite chieftain, fought to expand his personal power and conquered all of northern Mesopotamia. He installed his younger son as the ruler of Mari. In 1756 BCE, King ʿAmmurāpi of Babylon conquered Assyria, and Assyria lost its monopoly over the caravan trade.[1]
In the middle of the third millennium BCE, the state of Mitanni took control over Assyria. Mitanni rule peaked around 1500 BCE. After the Egyptians and Hittites defeated Mitanni in the 14th century BCE, King Aššuruballiṭ I conquered part of the former Mitanni territory and expanded Assyria beyond its traditional territory as a city-state.[1]
Economy[edit | edit source]
Assyria had a worse environment for farming than Babylonia. It was located on the path of trading routes to Anatolia, Babylon, and Egypt that transported copper, gold, lead, silver, and wood. The Assyrians founded trading colonies outside of their own territory, including the city of Kaneš in modern-day Turkey. Kaneš was the Assyrians' most important trading center and sold copper, fabric, leather, and wool.[1]
At first, land was communally owned and frequently redistributed. Private selling of land began in the 15th century BCE.[1]
Government[edit | edit source]
The king (iššakum) of Assyria could convene the council of elders but could not act without its approval. The council of elders gained one new member each year.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Grigory Bongard-Levin, Boris Piotrovsky (1988). Ancient Civilisations of East and West. https://archive.org/details/ancientciveastwest/mode/1up.