In the lowlands of Northern Iraq, a series of enormous cities lie crumbling in ruins…

In this episode, find out about one of the most remarkable ancient civilizations: the society known today as the neo-Assyrian Empire. Discover how the Assyrians built their empire out of the ashes of the Bronze Age, and built an empire of iron that lasted for centuries. Explore the extraordinary flourishing of art and technology that they fostered. And finally, discover what happened to cause their final, devastating collapse.

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CREDITS:

Sound engineering by Alexey Sibikin

Readings:
Hebrew – Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Ancient Greek – Pavlos Kapralos

Historical consultant – Dr. Ellie Bennett, University of Helsinki

Voice actors:

Mustafa Raee
Peter Walters
Lachlan Lucas
Carson Wishart
Nick Denton
Rhy Brignell
Annie Kelly
Lou Millington
Jake Barrett-Mills

– Colourisations of Assyrian carvings by Jeramy Smith:

– 3D reconstructions of Assyrian cities by Kais Jacob Ishak.

– Photography of antiquities by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg), CC-BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons and World History Encyclopedia.

– Drone photography of Mosul and Ashur
by Mohaymn Al Wasmi: …(read more)

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The Assyrians were a powerful ancient civilization that ruled over a vast empire known for its military prowess and advanced iron technology. The Assyrian Empire reached its peak during the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, dominating the Near East with its iron weapons and innovative military tactics.

The Assyrians were known for their brutal conquests and ruthless tactics in warfare. They perfected the use of iron weaponry, which gave them a significant advantage over their opponents who still used bronze weapons. Iron was stronger and more durable than bronze, allowing the Assyrians to create more powerful and efficient weapons such as swords, spears, and arrowheads.

The Assyrians also developed advanced siege warfare techniques, using battering rams, siege towers, and ramps to conquer heavily fortified cities. They were the first civilization to use a standing army of professional soldiers, organized into units with specific roles and equipped with the latest military technology.

One of the most famous Assyrian rulers was King Ashurbanipal, who reigned from 668 to 627 BCE. He is known for his extensive library in Nineveh, which contained thousands of cuneiform tablets documenting the history, literature, and religion of the ancient Near East. Ashurbanipal was a formidable military leader who expanded the Assyrian Empire to its greatest extent, conquering lands from Egypt to Persia.

However, the Assyrian Empire eventually fell due to a combination of internal strife, external pressures, and revolts from subjected peoples. The Babylonians, Medes, and Scythians all played a role in the downfall of the once-mighty Assyrian Empire, which was finally defeated and destroyed in 612 BCE.

Despite its eventual demise, the Assyrian Empire left a lasting impact on the ancient world. Its iron technology and military innovations influenced future civilizations, while its artistic and architectural achievements can still be seen in the remnants of ancient palaces and temples. The legacy of the Assyrians as a powerful empire of iron continues to fascinate historians and archaeologists, offering insights into the ancient world and the rise and fall of great civilizations.