Rise of Complex Societies: The Assyrians

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archaeology, Bronze Age, Complex Societies, education, Middle East, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, prehistory, WEA

One of the civilisations mentioned during the course was the Assyrians, including one of their Kings, Ashurbanipal, and his library. Before the sun never set on the British Empire; before Genghis Khan swept the steppe; before Rome extended its influence to encircle the Mediterranean Sea; there was ancient Assyria. Considered by historians to be the first true empire, Assyria’s innovations laid the groundwork for every superpower that has followed. Marian H Feldman details the rise and fall of the Assyrian Empire.

Curator Mathilde Touillon-Ricci shares her research into the letters of Old Assyrian traders and the sometimes surprising ways in which they get around paying taxes

In this episode Curator Mathilde Touillon-Ricci explains the ancient Assyrian postal system and shows a number of rare examples of Assyrian envelopes – which don’t differ all that much from those still used today.

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The Norman World: Krak des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din

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archaeology, Crusades, medieval, Middle East, Normans, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, WEA

Krak des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din are considered by UNESCO to represent the most significant examples illustrating the exchange of influences and documenting the evolution of fortified architecture in the Near East during the time of the Crusades (11th – 13th centuries). The Krak des Chevaliers was built by the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem from 1142 to 1271. With further construction by the Mamluks in the late 13th century, it ranks among the best-preserved examples of the Crusader castles. The Qal’at Salah El-Din (Fortress of Saladin), even though partly in ruins, represents an outstanding example of this type of fortification, both in terms of the quality of construction and the survival of historical stratigraphy. It retains features from its Byzantine beginnings in the 10th century, the Frankish transformations in the late 12th century and fortifications added by the Ayyubid dynasty (late 12th to mid-13th century).

This short clip from the ‘Battle Castle’ documentary by Dan Snow discusses the reconstruction of Krak des Chevaliers following an earthquake.

Those wishing to follow this subject up may also wish to take a look at:

– Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (UNESCO World Heritage List)
– Krak des Chevaliers (Wikipedia)
– Citadel of Salah Ed-Din (Wikipedia)

The Norman World: Timeline of the First Crusade

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archaeology, Crusades, medieval, Middle East, Normans, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, WEA

March 1095	Byzantium delegation asks for Urban’s help against the Turks
November 1095	Pope Urban II preaches the First Crusade
Spring 1096	People’s Crusade leaves; 3 armies don’t make it past Hungary
August 1st 1096	Peter the Hermit and Walter Sansavoir reach Constantinople
August 15th 1096	Official start of First Crusade as set by Pope Urban II
October 6th 1096	Armies under Peter and Walter destroyed at Nicaea by Kilij Arslan
Autumn 1096	Leaders (and armies) of the official First Crusade arrive at staggered times at Constantinople. Alexius I Comnenus asks for and receives oaths of fealty and promises to return lands formerly under Byzantine control
April 1097	Crusaders cross the Bosphorus
June 19th 1097	Nicaea surrenders
June 16th – 28th 1097	Crusaders head into Asia Minor
July 1st 1097	Turks under Kilij Arslan unsuccessfully attack the crusaders at Dorlyaeum
October 21st 1097	Crusaders reach Antioch
February 6th 1098	Baldwin reaches Edessa whose prince is Thoros
March 10th 1098	Baldwin takes control of Edessa. Start of the first Latin settlement in the East
June 5th 1098	Muslim army under Kerbogha arrives and besieges the crusaders in Antioch
June 14th 1098	Crusaders believe they have found the Holy Lance
June 28th 1098	Crusaders attack besiegers and win; they then decide to wait out the summer before continuing
August 1st 1098	Adhémar of Le Puy dies, exacerbating crusaders’ leadership problems
July 15th 1099	Crusaders seize and sack Jerusalem
July 19th 1099	Pope Urban II dies, never hearing news of capture of Jerusalem
July 22nd 1099	Godfrey elected ruler of settlement at Jerusalem