A major portion of the "Cradle of Civilization", Assyria was an ancient civilization in northern Mesopotamia, which is an area now encompassing Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and southeastern Turkey. Centered on the Tigris-Euphrates River System in Upper Mesopotamia, the Assyrians rose to their greatest prominence and power in the ninth century BC, and dominated the entire Middle East for more than 200 years.

The Assyrians mostly worshiped the national god of Mesopotamia, Assur. following the same pagan religion as the majority of the Mesopotamian people groups. However, they also worshiped other gods and goddesses such as Ishtar, Adad, Sin, Ninurta, Nergal, and Ninlil.

The Assyrians were fierce and merciless warriors. They were unusually cruel, and showed little mercy to those they conquered (2 Kings 19:17). By the seventh century BC, Assyria occupied and controlled the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of Assyria in Biblical times was Nineveh, one of the greatest cities of ancient times. Excavations in Mesopotamia have confirmed the Bible’s description that it did indeed take a journey of three days to go around this city

Ancient Israel was no match for their overwhelming and brutal force. In 733 BC under King Tilgath-pileser, Assyria took Israel's land and carried the Israelites into exile (2 Kings 15:29). Later, beginning in 721 BC, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser besieged Samaria, Israel’s capital, for three years, until it's ultimate downfall. (2 Kings 18:9-12). (Jonah 3:3).

The first known written inscriptions made by Assyrian kings appear c. 2450 BC. The Assyrians kept excellent records of the kings of Assyria and the length of their reigns, called Limmu lists. There are three cuneiform tablets and two fragments, all dating back to the first mellennium BC. The oldest tablet ends with Tiglath-Pileser II (c. 967–935 BC), and the youngest with Shalmaneser V (727–722 BC).

With minor differences, these lists basically conform to other historical sources, such as the king lists of the Hittite, Babylonian and ancient Egyptian nations, as well as the archaeological records. It is not at all surprising that records several thousand years old are not always precise. There is some conflict about exact dates, as different historians use various long, middle or short chronologies. Not all kings are listed on the King's Lists, some are verified from other sources.

The Assyrian Dynasty is divided into four periods:
I. Early Assyrian period: 2450 - 1906 BC
II. Old Assyrian period: 1905 - 1381 BC
III. Middle Assyrian period: 1380 - 912 BC
IV. Neo-Assyrian period: 911 - 612 BC

I. Early Assyrian period: 2450-1906 BC

The people during the Early Assyrian period were nomads. The end of this early period found them settling into cities, marking the end of the nomadic period of the Assyrian people. Assur was the capital city of Old Assyrian Empire, of the Middle Assyrian Empire, and for a time, of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Ashur is thought by historians to have been established by King Ushpia II. (c. 2050 BC — c. 2030 BC) He is also credited with building the temple of Ashur in that capital city.

The kings of this period are:

These are identified as "kings who lived in tents" Tudiya c. 2450 BC — c. 2400 BC Adamu c. 2400 BC — c. 2375 BC Yangi c. 2375 BC — c. 2350 BC Suhlamu c. 2350 BC — c. 2325 BC Harharu c. 2325 BC — c. 2300 BC Mandaru c. 2300 BC — c. 2275 BC Imsu c. 2275 BC — c. 2250 BC Harsu c. 2250 BC — c. 2225 BC Didanu c. 2225 BC — c. 2200 BC Hana c. 2200 BC — c. 2175 BC Zuabu c. 2175 BC — c. 2150 BC Nuabu c. 2150 BC — c. 2125 BC Abazu c. 2125 BC — c. 2100 BC Belu c. 2100 BC — c. 2075 BC Azarah c. 2075 BC — c. 2050 BC Ushpia c. 2050 BC — c. 2030 BC; said to have been the founder of the temple of Ashur in Assur. The following are identified as "kings who are ancestors/whose fathers are known" Apiashal c. 2030 BC — c. 2027 BC; son of Ushpia Hale c. 2027 BC — c. 2024 BC; son of Apiashal Samani c. 2024 BC — c. 2022 BC; son of Hale Hayani c. 2022 BC — c. 2018 BC; son of Samani Ilu-Mer c. 2018 BC — c. 2015 BC; son of Hayani Yakmesi c. 2015 BC — c. 2012 BC; son of Ilu-Mer Yakmeni c. 2012 BC — c. 2009 BC; son of Yakmesi Yazkur-el c. 2009 BC — c. 2006 BC; son of Yakmeni Ila-kabkabu c. 2006 BC — c. 2003 BC son of Yazkur-el Aminu c. 2003 BC — c. 2000 BC; son of Ila-kabkabu The last names are listed as "kings whose eponyms are not known" Sulili c. 2000 BC; son of Aminu Kikkiya c. 2000 BC Akiya c. 2000 BC Puzur-Ashur I c. 2000 BC Shalim-ahum c. 1900 BC; son of Puzur-Ashur I Ilu-shuma c. 1945 BC — c. 1906 BC

II. Old Assyrian period: 1905-1381 BC

The capital city of Assur soon became a bustling trade center. Merchants from Assur established trading colonies in Asia Minor called karum, and traded mostly with tin and wool. In the city of Assur, the first great temples to the city god Ashur and the weather god Adad were erected. Kings Puzur-Ashur I, Ilu-shuma, Erishum I and Sargon I all wrote of building temples to the gods Ashur, Adad, and Ishtar in Assur. During the reign of King Assurbanipal, Ishtar rose to become the major deity in Assyria, surpassing even the national god Ashur. Archeologists discovered the oldest remains in the city in the temple of Ishtar and the Old Palace.

Kings of the Old Assyrian period:

Erishum I c. 1905 BC — c. 1867 BC - son of Ilu-shuma Ikunum c. 1867 BC — c. 1860 BC - son of Ilushuma Sargon I (date uncertain, text damaged) - son of Ikunum Puzur-Ashur II (date uncertain, text damaged) - son of Sargon Naram-Suen (Naram-Sin) (date uncertain, text damaged) - son of Puzur-Ashur (II) Erishum II (date uncertain, text damaged) - son of Naram-Suen Shamshi-Adad I c. 1700 BC - son of local ruler Ila-kabkabu Ishme-Dagan I - son of Shamshi-Adad Mut-Ashkur (unknown) son of Ishme-Dagan I, married to a Hurrian queen; not included in the standard King List, but attested elsewhere Rimush... (unknown) included in the alternative King List fragment, last part of name lost Asinum (unknown) grandson of Shamshi-Adad I, driven out by vice-regent Puzur-Sin because he was of Amorite extraction; not included in the standard King List, but attested in Puzur-Sin's inscription Adasi - drove the Babylonians and Amorites from Assyria circa 1720 BC Bel-bani (10 years); son of Adasi Libaya (17 years); son of Bel-bani Sharma-Adad I (12 years); son of Libaya Iptar-Sin (12 years); son of Sharma-Adad I Bazaya (28 years); son of Iptar-Suen Lullaya (6 years); son of a nobody Shu-Ninua (14 years); son of Bazaya Sharma-Adad II (3 years); son of Shu-Ninua Shamshi-Adad II (6 years); son of Erishum III Ishme-Dagan II (16 years); son of Shamshi-Adad II Shamshi-Adad III (16 years); son of (another) Ishme-Dagan, brother of Sharma-Adad II, son of Shu-Ninua Ashur-nirari I (26 years); son of Ishme-Dagan Puzur-Ashur III (24 or 14 years); son of Ashur-nirari I Enlil-nasir I (13 years); son of Puzur-Ashur III Nur-ili (12 years); son of Enlil-nasir I Ashur-shaduni (1 month); son of Nur-ili Ashur-rabi I (damaged text); son of Enlil-nasir I, ousted Ashur-shaduni to seize the throne Ashur-nadin-ahhe I (damaged text); son of Ashur-rabi I Enlil-nasir II c. 1420–1415 BC; brother of Ashur-nadin-ahhe I; ousted him to take the throne. Ashur-nirari II c. 1414–1408 BC; son of Enlil-nasir II Ashur-bel-nisheshu c. 1407–1399 BC; son of Ashur-nirari II Ashur-rim-nisheshu c. 1398–1391 BC; son of Ashur-bel-nisheshu Ashur-nadin-ahhe II c. 1390–1381 BC; son of Ashur-rim-nisheshu

II. Middle Assyrian period: c. 1380-912 BC

The Middle Assyrian Empire is the era between the fall of the Old Assyrian Empire in the 14th century BC and the establishment of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in the 10th century BC. Several kings of this period stand out. Ashur-uballit I proved to be a fierce, ambitious and powerful ruler. Shalmaneser I ascended to the throne in 1263 and proved to be a great warrior king. Tiglath-Pileser I ascended to the throne upon his father's death, and became one of the greatest of Assyrian conquerors during his 38-year reign.

Kings of the Middles Assyrian period:

Eriba-Adad I c. 1380–1353 BC; son of Ashur-bel-nisheshu Ashur-uballit I c. 1353–1318 BC; son of Eriba-Adad I Enlil-nirari c. 1317–1308 BC; son of Ashur-uballit Arik-den-ili c. 1307–1296 BC; son of Enlil-nirari Adad-nirari I c. 1295–1264 BC; son of Arik-den-ili Shalmaneser I c. 1263–1234 BC; son of Adad-nirari I Tukulti-Ninurta I c. 1233–1197 BC; son of Shalmaneser I Ashur-nadin-apli c. 1196–1194 BC; son of Tukulti-ninurta I; he seized the throne while his father was still living. Ashur-nirari III c. 1193–1188 BC; son of Ashur-nadin-apli Enlil-kudurri-usur c. 1187–1183 BC; son of Tukulti-Ninurta I Ninurta-apal-Ekur c. 1182–1180 BC; son of Ila-Hadda, a descendant of Eriba-Adad; He came up from Karduniash and seized the throne. (Note: Beginning with Ashur-Dan I, dates are consistent and not subject to middle/short chronology distinctions.) Ashur-Dan I c. 1179–1133 BC; son of Ashur-nadin-apli Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur c. 1133 BC; son of Ashur-dan I Mutakkil-nusku c. 1133 BC; brother of Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur Ashur-resh-ishi I c. 1133–1115 BC; son of Mutakkil-Nusku Tiglath-Pileser I c. 1115–1076 BC; son of Ashur-resh-ishi I Although not mentioned in Scripture, he was one of the most famous of the kings of the Assyrian empire. After his death, for two hundred years the empire fell into decay. The history of David and Solomon falls within this period. After 45 years of civil turmoil, he was eventually succeeded by his son, Shalmaneser II. Asharid-apal-Ekur c. 1076–1074 BC; son of Tiglath-pileser I Ashur-bel-kala c. 1074–1056 BC; son of Tiglath-pileser I Eriba-Adad II c. 1056–1054 BC; son of Ashur-bel-kala Shamshi-Adad IV c. 1054–1050 BC; son of Tiglath-pileser I Ashur-nasir-pal I c. 1050–1031 BC; son of Shamshi-Adad IV Shalmaneser II c. 1031–1019 BC; son of Ashur-nasir-pal I Ashur-nirari IV c. 1019–1013 BC; son of Shalmaneser II Ashur-rabi II c. 1013–972 BC; son of Ashur-nasir-pal I Ashur-resh-ishi II c. 972–967 BC; son of Ashur-rabi II Tiglath-Pileser II c. 967–935 BC; son of Ashur-resh-ishi II Ashur-Dan II c. 935–912 BC; son of Tiglath-Pileser II

II. Neo-Assyrian period: 911-612 BC

The The Neo-Assyrian Empire existed between 911 and 612 BC, during the Iron Age. During this period, Aramaic was made an official language of the empire, alongside the Akkadian language. Located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River, Ninevah became the capital city of Assyria during the Neo-Assyrian period, and was the largest city in the world for many years, until it was beseiged and sacked in 612 BC by a coalition of it's former subjects. By the reign of Shamshi-Adad I, Ninevah was known as a center of worship for the god Ishtar.

Assyria was always an enemy of the nation of Israel. In 733 BC, King Tilgath-pileser took Israel’s land and carried the inhabitants into exile (2 Kings 15:29). Later, beginning in 721 BC, the Assyrian king Shalmaneser besieged Israel’s capital, Samaria, until it fell three years later (2 Kings 18:9-12). It had been prophecied by Isaiah that God would use Assyria to carry out His judgment against the idolatrous Israelites. (Isaiah 10:5-19)

Given the antagonism between Assyria and Israel, it is understandable that the prophet Jonah did not want to travel to Nineveh when God told him to do so. (Jonah 1:1-3) When he eventually arrived in the Assyrian capital, Jonah preached God’s impending judgment, which lead to the king of Assyria and the entire city of Nineveh repenting. The grace of God was extended even to the Assyrians, causing Him to turn His anger away from that city for a time. (Jonah 3:10)

In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s of reign in Judah, Sennacherib took 46 of Judah’s fortified cities (Isaiah 36:1). He then proceeded to lay siege to Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. However, the Assyria forces were unsuccessful, despite their great power and military strength. King Hezekiah prayed, and God promised him that the Assyrians would never set foot inside the city (Isaiah 37:33). God himself fought for and protected Judah, by killing 185,000 Assyrian forces in one night. (Isaiah 37:36) A defeated Sennacherib returned to Nineveh where he was subsequently killed by his own sons. (Isaiah 37:38).

Kings of the Neo-Assyrian period:

Adad-nirari II 912–891 BC; son of Ashur-Dan II Tukulti-Ninurta II 891–884 BC; son of Adad-nirari Ashur-nasir-pal II 884–859 BC; son of Tukulti-Ninurta II Shalmaneser III 859–824 BC; son of Ashur-nasir-pal II Shamshi-Adad V 824–811 BC; son of Shalmaneser III Shammu-ramat, regent, 811–808 BC Adad-nirari III 811–783 BC; son of Shamshi-Adad V Shalmaneser IV 783–773 BC; son of Adad-nirari III Ashur-Dan III 773–755 BC; son of Shalmaneser IV Ashur-nirari V 755–745 BC; son of Adad-nirari III Tiglath-Pileser III 745–727 BC; son of Ashur-nirari V * Shalmaneser V 727–722 BC; son of Tiglath-Pileser III Shalmaneser V is the last king listed on the Assyrian King List; the following kings reigned after the list had been composed. The dates of the last kings are not certain.The Assyrian limmu lists coincide with absolute dates known from Babylonian chronology, thus providing good absolute dates for the years between 911 BC and 649 BC. The dates for the very end of the Assyrian period are uncertain due to the lack of lists after 649 BC. Some sources list Ashurbanipal's death in 631 BC, rather than 627 BC; Ashur-etil-ilani then reigns from 631 to 627, and Sin-shar-ishkun reigns until 612 BC, when he is known to have died during the attack on Nineveh. * Sargon II 722–705 BC * Sennacherib 705–681 BC * Esarhaddon 681–669 BC Ashurbanipal 669–between 631 and 627 BC Ashur-etil-ilani c.. 631–627 BC Sin-shumu-lishir 626 BC Sin-shar-ishkun c. 627–612 BC; historical records confirm the he died in the sacking of Nineveh. Ashur-uballit II 612 BC–c. 608 BC * denotes kings mention in the Holy Bible, KJV

Upon the death of Ashurbanipal in 627 BC, there were many civil wars within Assyria, and the empire began to disintegrate. In 616 BC, Cyaxares, king of the Medes and Persians, made an alliance with Nabopolassar, king of the Babylonians, to overthrow Assyria. Assyria formed an alliance with Egypt, but in the end, The Babylonians and Medes were victorious. The Assyrian capital of Ninevah fell in 612 BC. Thus, as the Babylonian Empire rose to power, the Assyrian empire faded away to the pages of history.