Assyria

/əˈsɪriə/ noun

Definition

An ancient empire in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) that was one of the world's first great superpowers, lasting from around 2500 BCE to 609 BCE.

Etymology

From the ancient city of Assur, the capital and religious center. The empire was named after this city, which itself may derive from the Akkadian god of the same name.

Kelly Says

Assyria created the first libraries we know of (like the famous Library of Ashurbanipal) and invented cuneiform-based administration—basically, they were the original bureaucrats of the ancient world!

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