13. The Assyrians - Empire of Iron
[AUDIO ONLY]
WATCH WITH VIDEO: • 13. The Assyrians - Em...
In the lowlands of Northern Iraq, a series of enormous cities lies crumbling in ruins...
In this episode, find out about one of the most remarkable ancient civilizations: the society known today as the neo-Assyrian Empire. Discover how the Assyrians built their empire out of the ashes of the Bronze Age, and built an empire of iron that lasted for centuries. Explore the extraordinary flourishing of art and technology that they fostered. And finally, discover what happened to cause their final, devastating collapse.
If you enjoy Fall of Civilizations, consider supporting the show today: / fallofcivilizations_po...
CREDITS:
Sound engineering by Alexey Sibikin
Readings:
Hebrew - Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe
Ancient Greek - Pavlos Kapralos
Historical consultant - Dr. Ellie Bennett
Voice actors:
Mustafa Raee
Peter Walters
Lachlan Lucas
Carson Wishart
Nick Denton
Rhy Brignell
Annie Kelly
Lou Millington
Crazy how Paul and his team consistently produce some of the finest historical content on the web.
True.
Agreed, and I sincerely wish I could be doing what they do (would be doing psychology or sociology instead of history but still)
Let me correct you. It is better than BBC documentaries which are some of the best documentaries on the planet.
Consistently?? Where can I view thier content?? I've listened to all the fall of civilizations podcasts at least a half dozen times. I was so excited when I saw this was just uploaded!! Do they have any more episodes somewhere else??
The thing is, it's not even that difficult to do, given the wealth of subject matter and almost limitless narrative opportunities. When I write historical fiction, the problem is knowing where and when to stop, not a dearth of material. I have no idea why such content is so rare. It's mad.
I'm a truck driver. Listen pretty much all day.
Glad you're enjoying!
Nice John! And thanks for all your hard work during these tough times. Keep on trucking and greetings from a Berliner Cement Truck driver (some decades ago though).
Actually sounds like bliss!
@@JacobSW. buddy what’s your job? I guess it’s something in an office right?
That's brave! I use them to help me sleep...
That letter from a boy to his mother at around an hour and six minute is truly a thing that makes the mind run circles.. it could truly be written today
Time stamp please?
Hi mother loves him! Why don’t you love me 😠
Seriously. I was listening to this and had to come to the comments, because I thought it was spooky and hilarious at the same time.
1:06:20 :)
😊
"put life on Pause for 3 hours, Fall of civilizations got the assyrians out!" Looking forward to the nabatenes! ❤️
Mllnjk
**immediately puts life on pause for 3 hours** loooolz
Ooof
@@batssama i hope he do
The respect for Mesopotamian Civilization in recent times by different content providers makes me happy and proud of the civilizations we once had in Iraq. Your content in particular is very well thought of, researched, and even brought me to tears (The Sumerians). The troubles of recent times have prompted myself to read more about my culture and all the great civilizations that came through and my appreciation for history as a result has vastly increased. I will definitely be enjoying this new edition of FoC. I hope you consider the Akkadians as well in future times as they have set the blueprint for future empires to come on running a large empire. Thanks for the hard work as it is really hard to imagine this kind of content is free!
You are fortunate to come from a place so unbelievably rich in culture and history. Any common problems you may be experiencing are really just a small blip compared to the tens of thousands that came before. ♡ Like you I was really moved by the Sumerian episode. The reading of the Lament for Ur undid me. But what a reminder that people have always been people - the desire for peace and security, full bellies and celebrations - have never, ever left us.
The Iraqi people have endured much hardship in the past two decades alone, but you do have so much history to be proud of. I agree with you that FoC and it’s members have done tremendous work in bringing these civilisations to life. Since discovering it, I have reawakened my own schoolboy fascination with this region and time in human history. Peace to you and yours.
What a great comment. It truly is fascinating how advanced the Fertile Crescent was, and so long ago. I’ve found my own interest in collapsing empires, as a citizen of an Empire State that I believe has overextended itself exactly like Rome before the fall, (and deserves to fall, honestly) I think that what is most interesting from this channel is the insight into what it must have felt like to be alive at the time and process the collapse of something that seems so…well, permanent. I also hope that there will be an episode on the Akkadians in the future!
@@peepindis Thanks for your kind comment and I agree. It's imperative that we encounter problems before something great comes along. The Sumerian episode was an absolute masterpiece and it truly sent me to a trance with how interactive it was.
@@laurelsilberman5705 Thanks for your kind comment. Very accurate, empires fall and others rise. The ones that rise learn from the ones that fell. The Fertile Crescent is the starting point and the point of reference for all future empires. We have to thank the innovative Sumerians and future civilizations for using tablets and cuneiform. I definitely like the personal stories of the regular people during that timeframe. It's remarkable that there is still many tablets that haven't been deciphered. I am very enthused at the fact there is a potential for more stories to come and seeing the interest in Ancient Near East rise up once more gives me more confidence. The Akkadian Episode (fingers crossed) will be nothing short of incredible. They are a personal favorite of mine as far as ancient empires go.
Finally!!!! My wife is sick of learning about the Sumerians every night as we fall asleep. Now We have a new bed time story
Thats adorable
Amen brother , A glitch in the system, but why the Sumerians?
Food for thought, man. Perhaps your wife is looking forward to some other kind of entertainment in bed.
@@Neldidellavittoria cheeks are always clapped prior to bedtime stories
@@zacharystrong 🤣
This is gonna get me through my shift tonight.
I’m saving it for my 8 hours on the hamster wheel tomorrow. :)
Same here. Perfect timing to be uploaded.
Plot twist: he works as an air traffic controller
@@rebellaniefanclubholstein ATCs actually have quite a bit of downtime, particularly at night. I've got a friend who plays FIFA on shift and its completely accepted.
3 hours on Assyria and you're starting with Xenofon's Anabasis? Boy, this'll be a ride. I'm in!
Last time I was this early, I could still check out items from the Royal Library of Ashurbanipal.
😂😂😂
P
😂😂😂
Am I the only one who cried at the end when that poem was read? Something about the loss of what once was and the sheer emptiness felt upon the destruction of that world touched me so deeply. I know Assyria was not the kindest empire and they reaped what they sowed, but that lament just makes the emotions seem so close, so able to be held to the heart that even I, separated by the centuries, was still able to weep for a vanished time. Thank you so much for these podcasts. I love them.
I did too. I kept thinking about the lions and thinking "the lions' revenge."
@@metacomet2066 it brought the Dire Straits tune "Lions" to my mind.🎶✌️
This is my favorite audio channel period, better than any podcast or other historical documentaries. I will often go to bed listening to these as they are calming, then relisten while working because I want to hear the info. I relisten to older ones to relax before sleeping. It's better then starting at a screen, and the narrator's voice is even and calming.
Same here I do the same
I been doing audiobooks but you gotta know what works for you. I have to listen to something more than once before listening to sleep, I need to be able to know exactly what’s coming up next
Kjj😅umpluk😅luu😅 lollipop llmmlj😅😅7mlkk😅
@@ducatited😅😅😅😅😅
@@swayback7375 m ohmmeter know me mm l my😢
I thought I was hallucinating when I saw this. I'm glad I wasn't! The Assyrian empire is such an under rated topic.
As an ethnic assyrian myself, I respect any channel talking about my peoples history! We still speak the same “Aramaic” language also. And are indigenous to Nineveh, North iraq !
What color are they ?
Seriously that’s the most important thing you can think to ask
@@rhondaclark716 some are dark and some are lighter, for example I have some relatives with dark skin and dark features and others with pale skin, light eyes etc
I work with 4 ethnic assyrians and have learned a bit of their language, they LOVE the fact that some white American guy speaks some of lishana suirai! If you speak the language I would happily pay you for some Zoom lessons.
@@mariamisaac4237 exactly facts 😂 we are “all colours” I guess, I have family with blonde hair blue eyes or red hair, pale skin, darker skin, etc..
I'm so happy this is out. I Have listened to all your episodes countless times. When I saw this was 3 hours long, I rejoiced.
The only thing better than watching/listening to FoC is, well... re-watching/re-listening to it over and over again!
By now I reckon I've listened to each episode an average of seven times. These podcasts are so soothing.
Same
I get chills when he says "what in all the world could have happened to them?" This is without a doubt one of the best history podcasts ever.
This channel is beyond glorious. The level of effort that goes into these videos is mind boggling.
Thank you! So glad you're enjoying
Voice overs in Greek, yeah, someone's putting the work in
8
mmvbnnmb
History books usually repeat the same content I've heard a million times. Fall of Civilizations tells me history so uniquely and in depth that its like the first time I'm ever hearing about it.
"History doesn't repeat, but it often rhymes" Mark Twain
I am recently discovering many great quotes from Twain. This is yet another thank you
Whenever I see you post a new thing, I stop whatever I'm doing and listen. This even goes for the videos, re-watching content I've already listened to before.
The Mesopotamian podcasts are the greatest effort online to retell the storied history of Iraq. Thank you for sharing this for free ♥️ 🇮🇶
I am legit surprised every time I see anything on KZhead talking about the ancient near east that *doesn't* center around ancient freaking alien theories. Thank you! You're up there with Dan Carlin and Mike Duncan!
These guys weren’t aliens but lizard people
@@angryatheist No.
@@lastofmygeneration lol 😂 it would be funny except that it’s sad because ppl actually believe it
When I go to Mosul University, I pass by the ancient city of Nineveh on the eastern side of the Tigris, which is a vast, deserted land that occasionally contains crumbling walls, hills, and sometimes ruined castles. Now the Mosul municipality has demolished a part of the ancient wall to pave a road.
That’s amazing. Pity they have torn some of it up.
How is a government allowed to destroy historic ruins? Especially for something like a road?
@@sarahrosen4985 It's silly but complicated. 30 years ago, to avoid entering the archaeological area, the government paved the street on private property, without the owner daring to object. But after the regime change, the owner started a legal battle against the government and demanded 6 million dollars in compensation. But the municipality considered that changing the path of the street and demolishing a part of the wall would only cost a few thousand dollars, taking advantage of a legal loophole. Anyway, construction was suspended after a social media campaign but sadly, a small portion of the wall has been damaged.
There is no podcast I look forward to like this one. I can’t wait to listen!! Thanks for the amazing content.💙💙
You can imagine how thrilled I was as I came to the channel to re-watch a random old episode and realized there was a fresh one! Yes, this has got to be one of the best podcasts in the world lately!
@@PedroFerreira-ze5yp I listen to these over and over before bedtime. Best channel on YT and so glad they have a big following; Paul is making us a little smarter😊
Same here!
So, I read this comment during the first 10 seconds of the video, before the audio started playing, and initially thought you were literally saying, “there is no podcast” lol.
@@kckc4955 I do the same! I've listened to them all so many times. I couldn't believe there was a new one!
The quality of these documentaries is astonishing. Please continue making this treasure.
I love how you include, wherever possible, accounts of this history in the native languages of the observers
I feel like Fall of Civilizations level of content will be one of the reasons these civilizations will remembered far into the future. College lecture level material with the presentation and production level of the best podcasts out there.
Nothing on the internet will last more than a few decades. Sad but true. We have to continue to maintain physical records. Digital information will never last.
As a persian REALLY enjoyed it! This is by far THE MOST FASCINATING podcast on history I've ever encountered!
I can't wait to see what he does with this episode when it's redone as a video. The Sumerians and now the Assyrians are my favorite episodes.
@@ArchMageDarium same here. Always been an ancient history enthusiast.
@@royasafari1793 That's generally been my favorite period up to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire. I'm waiting for a podcast/video on the Achaemenid Persian empire on this channel.
Waiting for the Persian episode! So many Persias to choose from!
You lie
I thought literally an hour ago, that it'd be extremely cool to get a new FoC episode soon. Thank you, I really admire your work.
Thank you my friend, I hope you enjoy!
I think that literally every couple days especially recently since finals ended 🙏 thank you foc
As an Assyrian and a beer lover I can only cheer to this incredibly well made documentary about my people. Thank you! 🍻
Suryoye 🤜🤛 Ashuri
@@Razzle182 ahna kulan Suryoye/Suraye=Ashuraye
@The Imperishable Star No it doesn't you are right. Just becuase someone converts to Nestorianism doesn't make them Assyrian. There are Assyrians in the Orthodox, Catholic etc churchs too. But many of the nestorians are Assyrian. How do we know? Well the nestorians (as well as others) spoke Eastern Syriac wihch has alot of influences from Akkadian. Not to mention they call themselves 'Suraye' which has been proven to come from 'ASuraye' which means Assyrian.
@The Imperishable Star get a life
@The Imperishable Star You're hilarious. "By the 8th century BC Aramaic came to be widely used alongside Akkadian as one of the languages of the Neo-Assyrian empire." And exactly whose history is being stolen?
Mr. Cooper. Your podcasts are amazing. I am touched by history of every civilization you told us about. I literally cried when the Sumerians had to leave their cities to survive. It was devastating.
Thank you Grzegorz! So glad you're enjoying.
Sumer was the first one I discovered. They're all amazing.
We have this coming.
@@casteretpollux 😬
This series is an absolutely incredible achievement.
Every time one of these releases I think, "This would make an awesome D&D setting"
Hahahahaha! I took Waterdeep DragonHeist and reset it in a D&D version of Babylon. It was awesome!
Nerd. I'm interested 👀😂
Crit!
I want to play d and d in Roman britain
@@isaacshultz8128 Me too! The historical setting of Rome conquering Britain, building London; the geopolitics of holding an island nation as part of your empire; it's a perfect backdrop for D&D.
I can't seem to get enough of this channel. Honestly have no idea how many times I have watched these over and over again. And this one is completely new. Best way to start the week in my opinion.
Seeing a notification for a FoC release is like getting a surprise gift in the mail!
This is no mere podcast. It's a masterpiece, a work of art.
Thanks for the high quality content. I was deployed to Iraq in 2005 I spent my time there learning about this great empire and walking amongst it's ruins. I even got the nickname the archeologist. One of the staging areas we often used was near the ruins of Nimrud. Later Isis fighters destroyed the ruins. It is saddening how much was lost when they took over the area.
From the moment he hinted that this podcast was special to him and related to the most popular podcast he did, I knew it was gonna be Assyria
Thank the Gods!!! I'm addicted to your pod casts. I can't get enough of your voice. It's soothing like David Attenborough. Thank you for all the research you do to put these together so eloquently.
"... when he looked out over the sandblasted desert, the grasses sprouting between the crumbling bricks as the wind battered his hair and tugged at his clothes ... " Lyrical language with vivid imagery. Masterful writing.
Appreciate this channel so much, even more so now covering my people! We remain a proud and strong peoples even now in 2021. What lives in heart & mind can never be lost.
That's beautiful, no one can take that from you unless you let them. Neber let them.
I always love how your epics start with a story set far back in history discovering what would be an ancient civilization even to them. Really gives you a full bodied idea of where this civilization takes place and the timeframe it inhabited.
100% agree it really frames the narrative and sets the tone of the whole story and theme of the channel
True. But also shows us how they all thought they were so superior they were not aware of more primitive enemies ... like us. 🤔
@@bmertelj m Mm M
@@bmertelj m6 6 66
Mmj
I appreciate the Fall of Civilizations podcasts immensely
The march of ten thousand, is probably my favorite story form the ancient world
It should be a movie!
To my shame I was totally unaware of it until it was mentioned in the historical but dramatized and fictionalized series 'The Terror' about the crews of the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus making their own dreadful march southwards, abandoning ship deep in the arctic circle.
This voice is the most relaxing sound. I close my eyes and away I go to another place and time. ❤️
Who are the eight lunatics who dislike this?? Been waiting patiently for this. One of the best history podcasts out there. Brilliant, throughly researched content, narrated with such romance and beauty by Paul. Thank you for your hard work.
all the dislikes are from Babylonians.
I don't generally have time for podcasts. but for fall of civilizations I make time. thanks for your content.
1:21 Greatest Sennacherib quote ever.
I cannot tell you how excited I was when I saw this. I have autism and history is one of my special interests so this podcast is my idea of heaven. I cannot tell you how much I love it.
I can't even imgine how much time it would take to research an entire civilization spanning centuries, collect different evidences of the time, then write a script so elegant and captivating. Your work is priceless sir.
Another triumph. There are some truly great documentary makers on KZhead and this channel is one of the best. It is a shame that TV companies like the BBC do not do this any longer. They seem to think that they should only cater for those with attention spans of less then 30 seconds
Been waiting so long! Re-listening to old episodes over and over. I pick up something new on every listen. Wish school was as interesting.
Fantastic, one of your best. Adding in the parallel texts from the Hebrew Bible was a brilliant addition. The Assyrian collapse was amazingly rapid, practically overnight. Cruelty only gets you so far.
The Paul of civilizations returns. Nice!
No way, a new civ?! I will never stop recommending this channel to everyone who shows the slightest interest in history
Idk what to do with my life now that I finished the episode… Guess I’ll have to binge watch all of the episodes again. 👀
3 hours? It's Christmas!
Much love from an assyrian❤️💪🦁
Wow 3 hours and in my mind played out the scenes of history like never before. A bard if there ever was one !!! Musical, magical, Enticing.... you are the BEST!!!!!
I was assembling some circuits and left KZhead on autoplay, the algorithm did it's job properly bringing me to this amazing podcast
This made my day. Nothing resonates more than hearing the twilight of elder days.
I legit squealed when i saw this.
Me too!!
lol
I love this Podcast! I guess I'll have to record the Euro football match now because I'm enjoying this first!!! YOU have the best history learning channel!! ❤ Thank you for your work Paul Cooper!
These are EASILY the best historical podcasts available. So much love
I got so hyped when this popped up in my feed!
I’ve been binging these while working from home for like 2 weeks. I can’t give enough props to this guy for the dedication, detail and love he puts into each episode.
The best history channel on KZhead.
how things change. when i was young and my father the age i am now, he'd encourage me to take interest in plants and gardening, would watch ancient history like this for hours. my youthful ears ignored such council. yet now he's gone and i reach this age myself, i return from gardening disappointed to learn i've only an hour's listening left!
Don't know if anyone else dies this. But this is the 4th time listing to this one. Hands down some of the best content out there.
I must set aside time in my schedule to watch this the whole way through. I've been taken on such extraordinary journeys over the last 12 episodes
I will fall asleep to this podcast over 100 times and still know nothing about it.
i know EXACTLY what you mean
Thank you…thank you….thank you!!! You have no idea how appreciated your podcast is, especially during this very weary period in our own history 🙏❤️…..oh and thank you for the minimal advert interruptions 👌👌👌
One of the best parts of these episodes is the overwhelming support and adulation and positive comment sections on KZhead.
All of then fall short, even mines
Great podcast, it's stories like the Assyrians that grab the imagination; a classical age empire that at it's height beat the Egyptians yet vanished almost overnight to the point they were almost lost to history. I actually learned about their existence from the excellently written manga series Red River, a civilization that mastered iron in a time when bronze was the primary tool and ruled most of the fertile crescent.
What's red river about is it like vinland saga?
@@PALACIO254 yes, an Isekai story where the main character ends up in the 9th century B.C. during the Assyrian golden age
I nearly spat my dinner out when my phone lit up! I can't wait
Somebody needs to give Paul all the money so he can cut loose and make big budget episodes with set pieces to bring these amazing readings to life.
This was one of my favourite topics in high school history. Thank you for covering it
What a luxury to fall asleep while being told a story. Your work is as wonderful as it is valuable. Thank you for all that you give to us.
Truly Paul u have become a legend in your self. When it comes to history I think of your voice the same as with my nature docs I think of David Attenborough. That's it I gotta get patreon and support u. My kids know your voice and listen for as long as parts hold their attention as we do stuff in our reptile room. Or in our garden.
Tnx for the nature doc recommend.
"in our reptile room" ... :-) Reptiles say "in our human house"
Another 3 hours of joy. Thank you for letting us share the knowledge 😊
I love this series and yet it's so sad. Wonderful job. Touching for sure. The education and insight an almost happy by product, in my mind.
I needed something to keep me entertained today...thank you guy's for all your work these documentary's are genuinely something I look forward to
Our pleasure!
Yes! Just what I need to get me through the day! Clicked as soon as I got the alert!
At last, the waiting was long but the better is the enjoyment.
Gonna be watching this more than once!!!
I was literally just listening to the first part of Dan Carlin's King of Kings podcast, nice
I listened to it years ago when I was in Iraq - he's a great storyteller.
@@FallofCivilizations That must have felt surreal.
Excellent content. Great team. If there was an Oscar for narration it would be yours.
No visual could bring alive the ages like this.
for poor people, youtube is a true Library of Alexandria. thank you for making these great episodes
Babe wake up, new Fall of Civilization podcast
The absolute awesomeness that my afternoon at work just became seeing this drop!
Fall of Civs and Montemayor on the same day? Hallelujah!
This is the best podcast of its type, hands down. Well done.
Bro I fell asleep watching spoonkid and woke up to this??!??!! It lowkey fire tho
I love these stories, and it's sad to think they may cease to exist entirely one day. Did any of this even happen if we all end up forgetting it? Maybe no time soon, but one day when Earth is just one of many planets inhabited by humans, these stories will drift into obscurity. I think it's so vital that these kinds of recordings exist. I hope to see this type of high quality content secured on blockchains or something one day.
A chaldean (brother of assyrians) feel so happy that you did this podcast about the great people of Assyria. I hope you make a video like documentary for this episode
Coming soon!
@@FallofCivilizations ohhhhh cant wait i love youuuuu ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Once again you've told an epic story with imagination and wonder. Stories of ancient history are not appreciated as they should be. Thank you for reviving stories that have slipped through the pages of time.
I learn so much from history. These podcast tell of forgotten worlds rippling through time great lessons that we would do well to heed.
Thank you, I made the lamb stew using the recipe that you spoke about, also ordered your book, you keep making them, ill keep listening
This channel is unmatched
Xenophon: we won the battle, but our leader and top commanders were killed and we fled. That’s definition of lost battle, dude.
A Pyrrhic victory maybe!
@@FallofCivilizations more like memoirs of deserter.
Our top leaders get killed when they go to negotiate their return unarmed... And we get through an empire like walking in a park