The Assyrian empire
The first military power to rule the whole Middle East
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The Assyrians were the first to make terror explicit state policy: their inscriptions describe flaying and mass deportation in detail, precisely because they were meant to be read by anyone contemplating revolt. At the same time Ashurbanipal systematically gathered all knowledge he could obtain, in the world's first library aimed at completeness. The empire fell abruptly to an alliance of Babylonians and Medes.
For children
The Assyrians built an army with iron weapons, siege engines and cavalry, and conquered everything from Egypt to Persia. They deported whole peoples to prevent revolt. Their library at Nineveh preserved the Epic of Gilgamesh for posterity.
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Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org