The Assyrians formed one of the major empires of the ancient East. The members of this town were mostly of Semitic origin. They settled in the valley of the Tigris River in northern Mesopotamia in Asia. They developed their civilization from the nineteenth century BC They used cuneiform (wedge-shaped) were working in trade and had a rigorous state organization. In its early history was dominated by neighboring towns, as the Sumerians and Babylonians, but with Azur-resh-ishi I (1134-1116 BC) and his son Tiglath-Pileser I (1116-1077 BC) have outlined his own empire. The most important Assyrian cities were Kalakh, Azur and Nineveh, the capital at different periods. Warlike people, who originally had an army composed of all social classes, joined, in time, fighters belonging to the conquered peoples and cavalry troops. Rapidly extended its borders, and between 800 and 782 BC, invaded Babylonia, Armenia, Palestine, Phoenicia and other neighboring regions.
In the year 614 B.C., the Medes conquered Azur. Two years later, with the help of the Babylonians, took Nineveh, which determined the final fall of the empire.
The Assyrians excelled in sculpture, especially in the representation of human-headed winged bulls. They also showed great skill in the art of relief, through which depict scenes of hunting, war or everyday. In Assyrian architecture highlights the temples built in the form of different floors tower (ziggurat).