The Middle East: 645–634 BCE

Ashurbanipal: Scholar and Collector

During the years 645–634 BCE, Assyrian king Ashurbanipal proudly asserts his unique status as a scholarly king, boasting of his extensive education: “I Ashurbanipal, within [the palace], took care of the wisdom of Nebo, the whole of the inscribed tablets, of all the clay tablets, the whole of their mysteries and difficulties, I solved.” Unlike most monarchs of his era, Ashurbanipal is notably literate, able to read and write cuneiform scripts in both Akkadian and Sumerian. His intellectual pursuits include translating ancient texts predating the great flood and solving complex mathematical problems. Demonstrating his deep respect and passion for Mesopotamian culture, he establishes a vast library in Nineveh, gathering cuneiform texts from across Mesopotamia, especially from Babylonia.

Ashurbanipal’s Cruelty and Power

Despite his scholarly reputation and evident popularity among his subjects, Ashurbanipal also gains notoriety for exceptional cruelty toward his enemies. Assyrian reliefs and contemporary accounts graphically illustrate his brutality: depictions survive of him threading a dog chain through the jaw of a defeated enemy king and forcing him to live confined within a dog kennel. His reign is prominently characterized by displays of severity and intimidation, often celebrated through vivid imagery that underscores pride in his ruthless power.

Stability and Decline

The final decade of Ashurbanipal’s rule is notably peaceful for Assyria, yet beneath this superficial calm, the empire begins to show signs of serious decline. Administrative documentation becomes scarce, suggesting diminished bureaucratic efficiency and possibly internal disruptions. Although surviving records confirm at least thirty-eight years of Ashurbanipal’s reign (up to 631 BCE), later historical traditions assert that he ruled for a total of forty-two years (ending in 627 BCE). His twilight years are overshadowed by growing succession disputes among his sons, indicating emerging fractures within Assyrian royal authority and hinting at impending instability that will soon challenge the empire’s integrity.