Iron Age
Further information: Neo-HittiteThe Early Iron Age (12th to 7th centuries BC). While not subject to the long versus short dating issue, chronology in the Ancient Near East is not on a firm footing until the rise of the Neo-Babylonian and Neo-Assyrian rulers in their respective regions. The dates, regnal lengths, and even the names of a number of rulers from that interim period are still unknown. To make matters worse, the few surviving records, such as the Synchronistic Chronicle, give conflicting data.
- Second Dynasty of Isin
After the fall of the Kassite dynasty of Babylon to Elam, power in the region, and control of Babylon, swung to the city-state of Isin. Assyria at this time was extremely weak, except during the reign of the powerful Assyrian ruler Tiglath-Pileser I. Other polities in the area had yet to recover from the Bronze Age collapse.
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marduk-kabit-aḫḫēšu | 1157 - 1140 BC | |
| Itti-Marduk-balāṭu | 1139 - 1132 BC | |
| Ninurta-nādin-šumi | 1131 - 1126 BC | Contemporary of Ashur-resh-ishi I of Assyria |
| Nebuchadnezzar I | 1125 - 1104 BC | Orig. Nabu-kudurri-usur, Contemporary of Ashur-resh-ishi I |
| Enlil-nadin-apli | 1103 - 1100 BC | Son of Nebuchadnezzar I |
| Marduk-nadin-ahhe | 1099 - 1082 BC | Contemporary of Tiglath-Pileser I of Assyria |
| Marduk-šāpik-zēri | 1081 - 1069 BC | Contemporary of Ashur-bel-kala of Assyria |
| Adad-apla-iddina | 1168 - 1147 BC | Contemporary of Ashur-bel-kala |
| Marduk-aḫḫē-erība | 1046 BC | |
| Marduk-zer-X | 1045 - 1034 BC | |
| Nabû-šuma-libūr | 1033 - 1026 BC |
- Middle-Assyrian period
After the Middle Assyrian Kingdom there is an uncertain period in Assyrian history. The current cornerstone of chronology for this time is the Assyrian King List which, unfortuneately, conflicts with other records such as the Synchronised King List and the Babylonian King List. In any event, the rulers of Assyria in this time were all fairly weak, except for Tiglath-Pileser I. Note too that this chronology is based on assumed synchronisms with Egypt in the previous period.
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ashur-Dan I | 1179–1133 BC | Son of Ninurta-apal-Ekur |
| Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur | 1133 BC | |
| Mutakkil-nusku | 1133 BC | |
| Ashur-resh-ishi I | 1133–1115 BC | |
| Tiglath-Pileser I | 1115–1076 BC | |
| Asharid-apal-Ekur | 1076–1074 BC | |
| Ashur-bel-kala | 1074–1056 BC | |
| Eriba-Adad II | 1056–1054 BC | |
| Shamshi-Adad IV | 1054–1050 BC | |
| Ashur-nasir-pal I | 1050–1031 BC | |
| Shalmaneser II | 1031–1019 BC | |
| Ashur-nirari IV | 1019–1013 BC | |
| Ashur-rabi II | 1013 – 972 BC | |
| Ashur-resh-ishi II | 972 – 967 BC | |
| Tiglath-Pileser II | 967 – 935 BC | |
| Ashur-Dan II | 935 – 912 BC |
- Babylon
Dynasties V to IX of Babylon (post-Kassite):
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simbar-šipak | 1025 - 1008 BC | Dynasty V - Second Sealand Dynasty |
| Ea-mukin-zēri | 1008 BC | |
| Kaššu-nādin-aḫi | 1008 - 1004 BC | |
| Eulmaš-šākin-šumi | 1004 - 987 BC | Dynasty VI - Bῑt-Bazi Dynasty |
| Ninurta-kudurrῑ-uṣur I | 987 - 985 BC | |
| Širikti-šuqamuna | 985 BC | |
| Mâr-bîti-apla-uṣur | 985 - 979 BC | Dynasty VII - Dynasty of "Elam" |
| Nabû-mukin-apli | 979 - 943 BC | Dynasty VIII - Dynasty of E |
| Ninurta-kudurri-usur II | 943 BC | Dynasty IX |
| Mar-biti-ahhe-iddina | 943 - 920 BC | |
| Šamaš-mudammiq | circa 900 BC | |
| Nabû-šuma-ukin I | ||
| Nabu-apla-iddina | ||
| Marduk-zakir-šumi I | ||
| Marduk-balassu-iqbi | ||
| Baba-aha-iddina | ||
| 5 unnamed kings | circa 800 BC | |
| Ninurta-apla-X | ||
| Marduk-bel-zeri | ||
| Marduk-apla-usur | ||
| Eriba-Marduk | 769 - 761 BC | |
| Nabu-šuma-iškun | 761 - 748 BC | |
| Nabonassar (Nabu-nasir) | 748 - 734 BC | Contemporary of Tiglath-Pileser III |
| Nabu-nadin-zeri | 734 - 732 BC | |
| Nabu-šuma-ukin II | 732 BC |
- Neo-Assyrian Empire
The Assyrian empire rises to become the dominant power in the ancient Near East for over two centuries. This occurs despite the efforts of various other strong groups that existed in this period, including Babylon, Urartu, Damascus, Elam, and Egypt.
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adad-nirari II | 912 – 891 BC | |
| Tukulti-Ninurta II | 890 – 884 BC | Son of Adad-nirari II |
| Assur-nasir-pal II | 883 – 859 BC | Son of Tukulti-Ninurta II |
| Shalmaneser III | 858 – 824 BC | Battle of Qarqar |
| Shamshi-Adad V | 823 – 811 BC | Treaty with Marduk-zakir-sumi I of Babylon |
| Adad-nirari III | 810 – 783 BC | Regent Shammu-ramat |
| Shalmaneser IV | 782 – 773 BC | Son of Adad-nirari III |
| Ashur-Dan III | 772 – 755 BC | Eclipse on June 15 763 BC |
| Ashur-nirari V | 754 – 745 BC | |
| Tiglath-Pileser III | 744 – 727 BC | Contemporary of Nabonassar of Babylon |
| Shalmaneser V | 726 – 722 BC | Contemporary of Rusas I of Urartu |
| Sargon II | 721 – 705 BC | Contemporary of Marduk-apla-iddina II of Babylon |
| Sennacherib | 704 – 681 BC | Contemporary of Shutruk-Nahhunte II of Elam |
| Esarhaddon | 680 – 669 BC | Contemporary of Pharaoh Taharqa of Egypt |
| Assurbanipal | 668 – 631 BC |
- Babylon
Dynasties X of Babylon (Assyrian):
Babylon was under the direct control of Neo-Assyrian rulers or their appointed governors for much of this period.
| Ruler | Reign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nabu-mukin-zeri of Assyria | 732 - 729 BC | |
| Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria | 729 - 727 BC | |
| Shalmaneser V of Assyria | 727 - 722 BC | |
| Marduk-apla-iddina II | 722 - 710 BC | |
| Sargon II of Assyria | 710 - 705 BC | |
| Sennacherib of Assyria | 705 - 703 BC | |
| Marduk-zakir-shumi II | 703 BC | |
| Marduk-apla-iddina II | 703 BC | |
| Bel-ibni | 703 - 700 BC | Assyrian appointed governor |
| Ashur-nadin-shumi | 700 - 694 BC | Son of Sennacherib of Assyria |
| Nergal-ushezib | 694 - 693 BC | |
| Mushezib-Marduk | 693 - 689 BC | |
| Sennacherib of Assyria | 689 - 681 BC | |
| Esarhaddon of Assyria | 681 - 669 BC | |
| Shamash-shum-ukin | 668 - 648 BC | Son of Esarhaddon of Assyria |
| Kandalanu | 648 - 627 BC | |
| Sin-shumu-lishir | 626 BC | |
| Sinsharishkun | ca. 627 - 620 BC | Son of Assurbanipal of Assyria |
- Classical Antiquity
For times after Assurbanipal (died 627 BC), see:
- Median Empire (728 – 549 BC), see List of Kings of the Medes
- Neo-Babylonian Empire (626 – 539 BC)
- Achaemenid Empire (550 – 330 BC)
The Hellenistic period begins with the conquests of Alexander the Great in 330 BC.
Read more about this topic: Short Chronology Timeline
Famous quotes containing the words iron and/or age:
“Whether our feet are compressed in iron shoes, our faces hidden with veils and masks; whether yoked with cows to draw the plow through its furrows, or classed with idiots, lunatics and criminals in the laws and constitutions of the State, the principle is the same; for the humiliations of the spirit are as real as the visible badges of servitude.”
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815–1902)
“When winter snows upon thy sable hairs,
And frost of age hath nipped thy beauties near;
When dark shall seem thy day that never clears,
And all lies withered that was held so dear,
Then take this picture which I here present thee,
Limned with a pencil not all unworthy;”
—Samuel Daniel (1562–1619)