The Pax Assyriaca: The Historical Evolution of Civilisations and Archaeology of Empires

This study of the evolutionary process of ancient civilisations stresses the complementarity between theoretical principles and the relevant historical and archaeological evidence. Taking its approach from World Systems Theory, it focuses on the origin, development and collapse of the first, ‘Near Eastern’, stage of the ‘Central Civilisation’.

''According to a (prevailing, but not undisputed) research opinion, the Assyrians succeeded in achieving an “Assyrian peace” for most of the 7th century BC (specifically ca. 700-620 BC) through their foreign and expansion policy, which created good economic opportunities in the controlled regions. The author aims to describe this evolutionary process in more detail by simultaneously drawing on historical sources and archaeological findings.'' (Translated from German) - W. Zwickel (2024): Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft

The Pax Assyriaca provides a study of the evolutionary process of ancient civilisations, stressing the complementarity between theoretical principles and the relevant historical and archaeological evidence. Taking its approach from World Systems Theory, the study focuses on the origin, development and collapse of the first, ‘Near Eastern’, stage of the ‘Central Civilisation’. The volume seeks to better understand the evolution of this stage of the Central Civilization, exploring its origin in the fusion of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations resulting from the expansion of the so-called Neo-Assyrian Empire from 1000 BC to 600 BC – better known as the Pax Assyriaca. Alongside investigations into the structure and development of the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilisations, the book presents a theoretical analysis of Neo-Assyrian imperialism and traces the characteristics of the incorporation of Egypt into the Pax Assyriaca, concluding that this integration was only fully completed by the successor empires of Assyria around 430 BC. Finally an explanation for the collapse of the Neo-Assyrian Empire is presented and its legacy in the context of the ‘Central Civilisation’ is assessed.

• | Author: Benjamin Toro
• | Publisher: Archaeopress
• | Publication Date: Feb 24, 2022
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781789690620
• | ISBN-10: 1789690625