The Neo-Assyrian Empire

The Neo-Assyrian period begins. Assyrian rulers expand their territory through highly organised military campaigns.

Ashurnasirpal II rules Assyria and develops the city of Nimrud as a major royal centre.

Sargon II becomes king of Assyria and continues the expansion of the Assyrian Empire.

Sennacherib rules Assyria and develops Nineveh into a magnificent imperial capital.

Ashurbanipal rules the Assyrian Empire. His famous library at Nineveh preserves thousands of clay tablets containing literary, religious and scholarly texts.

A coalition led by the Babylonians and Medes captures and destroys Nineveh. The Neo-Assyrian Empire rapidly collapses.