Military Tactics
What type of warfare involved surrounding and capturing enemy cities?
Siege warfare
What was the primary close-combat weapon used by Assyrian infantry?
Sword
What was one reason the Assyrian Empire expanded so successfully?
Military strength and effective warfare strategies
Which Assyrian king built Nineveh and had a famous library?
Ashurbanipal
What writing system did the Assyrians use to inscribe their annals and relief descriptions?
Cuneiform
What tactic did the Assyrians use to frighten and control their enemies without always engaging in battle?
Psychological warfare
What long-range weapon was crucial to Assyrian archers during sieges and battles?
Bow and arrow
How did military success help Assyrian kings maintain power within the empire?
It legitimised their rule, projected strength, and deterred rebellion.
Who reorganised the Assyrian army and expanded the empire extensively in the 8th century BCE?
Tiglath-Pileser III
Which Assyrian king’s reliefs at Nineveh depict the brutal siege of the Judean city of Lachish?
Sennacherib
How did the Assyrians prepare for sieges against fortified cities? Name one strategy.
They used battering rams, built ramps, or cut off supplies to force surrender.
Which type of vehicle gave the Assyrians a mobility advantage on the battlefield?
Chariots
What happened to many people in conquered regions after Assyrian campaigns?
They were deported, enslaved, or forcibly resettled to break resistance
What was the outcome of Sennacherib’s campaign against Judah?
He besieged and destroyed cities like Lachish, but did not capture Jerusalem
Why is it important to critically evaluate Assyrian inscriptions as historical sources?
They are biased, written to glorify the king and may exaggerate or omit failures — requiring cross-referencing with other evidence
Describe the role of engineers in Assyrian military campaigns.
Engineers built siege weapons, constructed ramps, diverted water sources, and created roadways for armies
Describe the function of a battering ram in Assyrian warfare.
It was a large, wheeled siege weapon used to break through enemy walls or gates during sieges
Name one economic effect of Assyrian military campaigns.
Tribute and plunder enriched the empire and funded infrastructure, palaces, and armies
What administrative and military reforms did Tiglath-Pileser III implement to make Assyrian campaigns more effective?
He professionalised the army, used standing troops and cavalry, and developed a centralised bureaucracy to manage conquests.
What is the significance of the “Siege of Lachish” reliefs found in Sennacherib’s palace?
They provide a detailed visual record of Assyrian siege tactics and the brutality of war
Explain how Assyrian military tactics helped maintain control over a vast and diverse empire.
Through swift, organised campaigns, fear-based tactics, and brutal suppression of rebellion, the Assyrians ensured compliance and deterred resistance across many regions
How did the Assyrians improve the effectiveness of their armour and weapons compared to earlier armies?
They used iron instead of bronze, developed body armour, helmets, and shields, and diversified weaponry for different roles (e.g., spearmen, archers, cavalry)
Explain how constant military campaigning influenced Assyrian society and state structure.
It created a militarised state focused on expansion, required strong administrative systems to manage conquests, and tied royal legitimacy to ongoing military success
How did Sennacherib’s campaign in Judah shape his legacy, both in Assyrian records and external sources like the Bible?
Assyrian records celebrate victories like Lachish, while the Bible emphasises the failure to capture Jerusalem, showing contrasting propaganda and perception.
Describe how Assyrian palace reliefs functioned as political propaganda in maintaining the king’s power.
They glorified the king’s military successes, depicted him as chosen by the gods, and intimidated enemies by showing his strength and the consequences of rebellion.