Assyria

Assyria was a major ancient Mesopotamian civilization, initially a city-state from the 21st to the 14th century BC, which later expanded into an empire. Founded around 2025 BCE, it existed until its dissolution in 609 BCE. Historians divide its history into periods such as Old Assyrian, Middle Assyrian, and Neo-Assyrian. Centered in northern Mesopotamia, Assyria's power varied, but it became one of the two major Mesopotamian kingdoms alongside Babylonia. During the Neo-Assyrian period, it was the dominant power in the ancient Near East, ruling the largest empire assembled up to that time. The Assyrian Empire fell in the late 7th century BC to a coalition of Babylonians and Medes.