884 - 609 av. J. - C.
Assyrian Empire under Salmanasar III (858-824 av. J. - C.)
Multi-media chart Hatchet
The Assyrian Empire was the most powerful Mesopotamian empire of Antiquity. The principal stages of its formation fall under the warlike activity of some sovereigns: Assournazirpal II (884-859 av. J. - C), Salmanasar III (858-824 av. J. - C) and Téglath-Phalasar III (746-727 av. J. - C). This last is made proclaim king de Babylone and imposes a kind of protectorate on the kingdom of Israel.
After him, large princes get busy to organize the empire, to still extend it in Asia and Egypt, not without having to fight on several occasions against of the revolts. Thus, Sargon II (722-705 av. J. - C) must face a coalition of Babylonia, Syria and Egypt.
The reign of Assourbanipal (668-627 av. J. - C) marks the apogee of the Assyrian power, which is exerted plates of Asia Mineure to banks of the Persian Gulf, and of Susiane in the Mediterranean. But excessive dimensions of this construction involve its brittleness. In 612 av. J. - C, the Babylonians and Mèdes seize the capital, Ninive, then put an end to the empire in 609 av. J. - C.