Assyria was a major player in the ancient Near East. Between 875 B.C.E. and 627 B.C.E., it nearly tripled in size. It formed in what is now part of Turkey, part of Syria, and part of Iraq. It grew to include more portions of what is now Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, plus portions of modern-day Iran and Egypt.

The Assyrian army had a reputation for fierce fighting and the use of brutality on opposing armies and prisoners of war. The Assyrians worshiped thousands of gods. The Assyrian Empire came to an end in 605 B.C.E. when the Babylonians conquered it.