266 lines
17 KiB
Markdown
266 lines
17 KiB
Markdown
<!-- factbase:177c6a -->
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# Assyrian Empire
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## Overview
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The Assyrian Empire was a Mesopotamian power that dominated the ancient Near East, reaching its zenith during the Neo-Assyrian period (911–609 BCE) as the largest empire the world had yet seen. @t[911 BCE..609 BCE] Assyrian history is conventionally divided into three main eras: Old Assyrian (c. 2025–1364 BCE), Middle Assyrian (1363–912 BCE), and Neo-Assyrian (911–609 BCE). [^3]
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## Key Facts
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- Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across the Near East, parts of South Caucasus, North Africa, and the East Mediterranean @t[911 BCE..609 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE @t[911 BCE..609 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh - True during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (~911–612 BCE), with different capitals at different periods. @t[~911 BCE..~612 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Aramaic <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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## Notable Rulers
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- Adad-nirari II (911–891 BCE): His accession marks the start of the Neo-Assyrian period @t[911 BCE..891 BCE] [^3] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrative reforms, professional army, systematic deportation policy @t[745 BCE..727 BCE] [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, built Dur-Sharrukin @t[722 BCE..705 BCE] [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Sennacherib (705–681 BCE): Expanded Nineveh, besieged Jerusalem @t[705 BCE..681 BCE] [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Esarhaddon (681–669 BCE): Conquered Egypt, reaching the empire's greatest territorial extent @t[681 BCE..669 BCE] [^3] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Ashurbanipal (668–631 BCE): Created the Library of Nineveh @t[668 BCE..631 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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## Achievements
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- Library of Nineveh: ~30,000 cuneiform tablets, preserving Mesopotamian literature - True during the reign of Ashurbanipal (~668–627 BCE) when the Library of Nineveh was assembled. @t[~668 BCE..~612 BCE] [^1] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Systematic deportation and resettlement policy: conquered populations relocated across the empire to prevent rebellion and integrate diverse groups; Tiglath-Pileser III institutionalized this as state policy - True during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (~911–612 BCE). @t[~911 BCE..~612 BCE] [^4] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Advanced siege warfare and military engineering - True during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (~911–612 BCE). @t[~911 BCE..~612 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Extensive road network and postal system - True during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (~911–612 BCE). @t[~911 BCE..~612 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh) - True during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (~911–612 BCE). @t[~911 BCE..~612 BCE] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Provincial administration system replacing vassal kingdoms with directly governed provinces - True during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (~911–612 BCE). @t[~911 BCE..~612 BCE] [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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## Decline
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Fell to a coalition of Babylonians and Medes; Nineveh destroyed in 612 BCE @t[=612 BCE]. The last Assyrian forces defeated at Carchemish in 605 BCE @t[=605 BCE] [^2].
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---
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[^1]: Frahm, E. "The Library of Ashurbanipal" in *The Oxford Handbook of Cuneiform Culture* (2011)
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[^2]: Radner, K. *Ancient Assyria: A Very Short Introduction* (Oxford, 2015)
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[^3]: Wikipedia contributors, "Neo-Assyrian Empire," *Wikipedia* (accessed 2026-02-22): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Assyrian_Empire
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[^4]: Radner, K. "Mass deportation: the Assyrian resettlement policy," *SARGON Project*, UCL (2012): https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sargon/essentials/governors/massdeportation/
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---
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across the Near East" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE" - when was this true?
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> 609 BCE event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Aramaic" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrative reforms, professional army" - when was this true?
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> 727 BCE event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, built Dur-Sharrukin" - when was this true?
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> 705 BCE event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Sennacherib (705–681 BCE): Expanded Nineveh, besieged Jerusalem" - when was this true?
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> 681 BCE event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Ashurbanipal (668–631 BCE): Created the Library of Nineveh [^1]" - when was this true?
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> 631 BCE event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "Library of Nineveh: ~30,000 cuneiform tablets, preserving Mesopotamian litera..." - when was this true? @t[~2026-02-23]
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> Historical event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Advanced siege warfare and military engineering" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Extensive road network and postal system" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh)" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Frahm (2011) [^1]; Radner (2015) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across the Near East" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Aramaic" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrative reforms, professional army" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, built Dur-Sharrukin" - what is the source?
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> Radner (2015) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Sennacherib (705–681 BCE): Expanded Nineveh, besieged Jerusalem" - what is the source?
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> Radner (2015) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "Library of Nineveh: ~30,000 cuneiform tablets, preserving Mesopotamian litera..." - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Advanced siege warfare and military engineering" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Extensive road network and postal system" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh)" - what is the source?
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> Frahm (2011) [^1]
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- [x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrative reforms, professional army" - what does "III" mean in this context?
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> Roman numeral indicating third king of that name (Tiglath-Pileser the Third).
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- [x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, built Dur-Sharrukin" - what does "II" mean in this context?
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> Roman numeral indicating second king of that name (Sargon the Second).
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- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Ashurbanipal (668–631 BCE): Created the Library of Nineveh [^1]" - Frahm source from 2011 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
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> Scholarship remains current. Library of Nineveh significance is well-established.---
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## Review Queue
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<!-- factbase:review -->
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 42: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE" - when was t..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 44: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh" - when..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 46: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Ara..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 48: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrat..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 50: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, bui..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 52: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Sennacherib (705–681 BCE): Expanded Nineveh, b..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 54: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Ashurbanipal (668–631 BCE): Created the Librar..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 56: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "Library of Nineveh: ~30,000 cuneiform tablets, p..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 58: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Advanced siege warfare and military engineering"..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 60: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Extensive road network and postal system" - when..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 62: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh)" - w..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 64: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across th..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 66: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE" - what is the..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 68: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh" - what ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 70: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Aram..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 72: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrati..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 74: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, buil..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 76: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Sennacherib (705–681 BCE): Expanded Nineveh, be..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 78: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "Library of Nineveh: ~30,000 cuneiform tablets, pr..." - when was this true?
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 80: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Advanced siege warfare and military engineering" ..." - when was this true?
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 82: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Extensive road network and postal system" - what ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 84: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh)" - wh..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 86: "[x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administra..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 88: "[x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, bu..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 90: "[x] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Ashurbanipal (668–631 BCE): Created the Library o..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[conflict]` Line 8: "Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across the Near East, parts of South ..." @t[-0911..-0609] overlaps with "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE @t[911 BCE..609 BCE]" @t[-0911..-0609] - were both true simultaneously? (line:9) [pattern:parallel_overlap]
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 8: "Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across the Near East, parts of South ..." - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 9: "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE @t[911 BCE..609 BCE]" - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh" - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Aramaic" - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Advanced siege warfare and military engineering" - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and postal system" - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 26: "Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh)" - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 40: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across t..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 42: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE" - when was t..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 44: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh" - when..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 46: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Ara..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 48: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrat..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 50: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, bui..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 52: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Sennacherib (705–681 BCE): Expanded Nineveh, b..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 56: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "Library of Nineveh: ~30,000 cuneiform tablets, p..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 58: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Advanced siege warfare and military engineering"..." - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 60: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "Extensive road network and postal system" - when..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 62: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh)" - w..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 64: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Northern Mesopotamia, expanding across th..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 66: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Neo-Assyrian period: 911–609 BCE" - what is the..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 68: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capitals: Ashur, Nimrud (Kalhu), Nineveh" - what ..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 70: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Akkadian (Assyrian dialect), later Aram..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 72: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administrati..." - what is the source?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 74: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, buil..." - what is the source?
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 76: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Sennacherib (705–681 BCE): Expanded Nineveh, be..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 78: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "Library of Nineveh: ~30,000 cuneiform tablets, pr..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 80: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Advanced siege warfare and military engineering" ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 82: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "Extensive road network and postal system" - what ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 84: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Monumental palace reliefs (Nimrud, Nineveh)" - wh..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 86: "[x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 16: "Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BCE): Administra..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 88: "[x] `@q[ambiguous]` Line 17: "Sargon II (722–705 BCE): Conquered Israel, bu..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 54: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Ashurbanipal (668–631 BCE): Created the Librar..." - Frahm source from 2011 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[stale]` Line 90: "[x] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Ashurbanipal (668–631 BCE): Created the Library o..." - Frahm source from 2011 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body. |