The Empires of Assyria and Babylon Course Materials

Session 3: Period of the Regional Kingdoms

In this class, we cover the period when the Old Babylonian Dynasty is no more, and the Hittite Old Kingdom collapses. A new set of players enter the scene. It's a time we know little about, but the sources offer some tantalizing clues as to what happened. We also will discuss how a new age dawns in the ancient Near East, and what the differences are with the past.

Outline

A.     The “Dark Age”

           1.          Rise of the Hurrians

           2.          Rise of the Kassites

           3.          Assessment of the Period

B.     Period of the Regional Kingdoms

           1.        Coming Out of the “Dark Age”

           2.        Political Systems

           3.        Diplomacy and Trade

           4.        Competition

           5.        Shared Ideologies and Social Organization

Key Terms

Hurrian

maryannu

Kassites

Amarna Letters

Exercises:

1.  Memorize the meanings of the key terms from this chapter.

2.  Without notes, cite the major developments of the period covered in this class.

3.  Read the sample Amarna Letters. Think about how what you are reading tells you about international relations during this period.

Amarna Letters (c. 14^th century BCE)

Letter from Tushratta of Mittani to Amenhotep III of Egypt

Tell Nimmureya, king of Egypt, my brother, my son-in-law, whom I love and who loves me; Tushratta, king of Mittani, who loves you, your father-in-law, says: All is well with me. May all be well with you. May all be well with your house, with my daughter Tadu-Heba, and with your wife, whom you love. May all be very, very well with your wives, your sons, your leading men, your chariots, your horses, your troops, your country, and whatever else belongs to you.

Shaushga of Nineveh, lady of all lands, said: "I wish to go to Egypt, the land that I love, and then come back." Now I send her and she is on the way.

Now, in the time of my father, she went... to this country. And as she stayed there and they honored her earlier, may my brother now honor her ten times more than before. May my brother honor her and let her come back at his pleasure.

May Shaushga, the lady of heaven, protect my brother and me for 100,000 years, and may our lady give us great joy. Let us act as friends. Is Shaushga not my goddess and my brother's goddess?

Letter from Rib-Adda, king of Byblos, to the king of Egypt

Tell the king, my lord, my Sun; Rib-Adda, your servant, says: I fall at the feet of my lord seven and seven times. Let the king, my lord, know that Pu-bahla, the son of Abdi-Ashirta, has taken the city Ullassa by force. Ardata, Wahliya, Ampi, Shigata, all these cities are theirs. Let the king thus send help to Sumur, until he gives thought to his land. Who are the sons of Abdi-Ashirta, the servant and the dog? Are they the king of the Kassites or the king of Mittani, so that they can take the king's land for themselves? In the past they would take cities of your mayors, and you did nothing. Now they have driven out your governor and have taken his cities for themselves. They have seized Ullassa. If you will do nothing under these circumstances, they will certainly seize Sumur and kill the governor and the garrison.

What can I do? I cannot go to Sumur. The cities Ampi, Shigata, Ullassa, and Erwada are hostile. Should they know that I am in Sumur, there would be these cities with ships, and the sons of Abdi-Ashirta in the countryside. They would attack me and I could not get out. Byblos would be joined to the hapiru.They have gone to Ibirta and an agreement has been made with the hapiru.

Letter of Burnaburiah to Akhenaten

To Naphkhururia, king of Egypt, thus speaks Burnaburiash, king of Karduniash, your brother: I am well. May the well-being reign over you, your house, your women, your children, your land, your great ones, your horses, your chariots.

When my father and your father had dealings in good friendship, they sent each other beautiful presents, and nothing they refused. Now, my brother has sent me only two minas of gold. But this is a very small amount: send, then, as much as your father did! And if you have little (gold), send half of what your father sent! Why have you sent me only two mines of gold? My work in the houses of the Gods is abundant, and now I have begun an undertaking: Send much gold! And you, whatever do you need from my land, write and it will be sent to you.

At the time of Kurigalzu, my father, the Kinahi went to him in the following terms: the borders of the country... we want to pass to the other side and join you. My father gave them the following answer: Forget the idea of dealing with me! I will not declare myself against my brother, the king of Egypt, nor will I treat with someone else! Should I not rather plunder you? He is my ally.  

My father committed no acts against your father.
Now (with respect to this): The Assyrians, vassals of mine, I have not sent to you, as they claim. Why have they been received in your land? If I am dear to you, do not let them conclude any business. May they return here with empty hands! As a gift, I send you three mines of beautiful lapis lazuli and five teams of horses for five wooden chariots.