The Assyrians

The Assyrians were an ancient people from northern Mesopotamia. They lived along the Tigris River thousands of years ago. The Assyrians were famous for their strong army and large empire. At one time, they ruled much of the Middle East.

A Mighty Army

The Assyrian army was one of the strongest in the ancient world. Soldiers used iron weapons, which were stronger than bronze. They fought with chariots, bows, and long spears. Their army could break through city walls with big machines. This helped them win many battles and build a huge empire.

Great Libraries

The Assyrians loved learning and stories. King Ashurbanipal built a huge library in his city called Nineveh. It had thousands of clay tablets with writing on them. The library kept stories, laws, and science from all over the empire. It is one of the oldest libraries we know about today.

Fun Facts

• Nineveh was one of the largest cities in the ancient world.
• Assyrian palaces were guarded by giant statues of winged bulls.
• They were among the first to use iron weapons in battle.

Did You Know?

The famous Epic of Gilgamesh was found on clay tablets in the library of King Ashurbanipal.