Very little written resources are preserved to figure out what was an origin of Assyrian civilization and much what we know is based on archeological excavation. Assyria had to thanks its origin to be on the edge of the fertile crescent; therefore, densely populated for milennia. Neoassyrian empire arouse at the ruins of the Bronze Age civilization collapse. Around 12century BC, most of the eastern Mediterranean, Levant, and Middle East civilization collapsed and it took several hundreds of years for the civilizations to recover. Assyrians were among the first one to emerge and build a new empire that we call Neoassyrian and it grew into largest empire the world had seen up to that time in the 8th century BC. While there are not explanations for sudden rise of the Assyrians, they evolved in the time when no significant threats from outside. Assyrians were one of the first nation to use iron significantly having abundant resources at its north. Their military tactics were also superior over the seminomadic warfare of its neighbors. Besides having superior army, Assyrians had several great kings who were able to administer the state wisely. As every empire, the Assyrians overstretched and declined within matter of three generation and were uprooted by Babylonians. The Assyrian civilization was overthrown violently and its people slaughtered by rebelled nations. Many cities were burned, destroyed, and the torch of civilization was handed over to Babylonians.
