Prominent Assyrian Kings (Video Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key kings, cities, peoples, and events from the Assyrian empire as described in the video notes.

Tukulti-Ninurta I

Assyrian king (reigned 1243–1207 BC) who defeated the Hittites and Kassites, captured and destroyed Babylon, stole Marduk’s statue, provoked revolts by desecrating temples, built a new capital, and was murdered by his son after a siege.

Hittites

Ancient empire in Anatolia defeated by Tukulti-Ninurta I.

Kassites

Babylonia dynasty defeated by Tukulti-Ninurta I during his campaigns.

Babylon

City captured and destroyed by Tukulti-Ninurta I; home to the statue of Marduk.

Marduk

Chief god of Babylon; his statue was stolen by Tukulti-Ninurta I.

Tiglath-Pileser I

Assyrian king (1115–1076 BC) who established Assyria as a major power and expanded into Syria and southern Babylonia, fostering fear in subjects and enemies.

Kalhu

Kalhu (Nimrud) was a prosperous trade city; Ashurnasirpal II built a new palace there and later royal burials occurred there.

Ashurnasirpal II

Assyrian king (c. 884–859 BC) who ruled by terror, beheaded enemies, forced tribute, and built a palace in Kalhu; queens were buried there while kings were buried at Ashur.

Shalmaneser III

Reigned after Ashurnasirpal II; maintained tribute system and faced a failed revolt by 12 kings, continuing the practice of tribute.

Tiglath-Pileser III

(745–727 BC) Expanded the empire, used siege warfare, resettled conquered peoples to prevent uprisings, and ended with the capture of Babylonia.

Dur-Sharrukin

Sargon II’s new capital; later abandoned after his death but remains an important archaeological site.

Sargon II

Son of Tiglath-Pileser III; defeated Israelites, quelled Chaldean revolts, and built Dur-Sharrukin as his capital.

Sennacherib

Son of Sargon II; moved capital to Nineveh, punished dissent, salted enemy fields, and attacked Judah under Hezekiah; defeated rebellions but was eventually killed by his sons.

Nineveh

Assyrian capital after Sennacherib moved there; site of eventual destruction in 612 BC.

Hezekiah

King of Judah who bribed Sennacherib to leave Judah alone during the siege.

Esarhaddon (Esarhaddon)

King (681–669 BC) who ruled through vassal kings, rebuilt Babylonian cities, defeated Egypt’s Kushite rulers, and claimed the right to rule Egypt.

Ashurbanipal

King (669–631 BC) known for terror, hunting lions, lavish living, and building a vast library of over 22,000 clay tablets; defeated a Babylonian rebellion but empire declined after his death.

Elamites

People defeated by Ashurbanipal; Elamite upheaval was suppressed as part of Assyrian campaigns.

Medes

North Mesopotamian group that allied with the Chaldeans in revolts against Assyria (c. 626 BC).

Chaldeans

Southern Mesopotamian group that led a major revolt with the Medes in 626 BC, contributing to the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC.

Chaldeans and Medes (626 BC revolt)

Coalition that challenged Assyria, leading to the destruction of Nineveh in 612 BC.