Assyrian conquest and ruralization: unveiling territorial dynamics in the provinces of Magiddû and Samerina

Squitieri, Andrea (2024): Assyrian conquest and ruralization: unveiling territorial dynamics in the provinces of Magiddû and Samerina. In: Levant [Forthcoming]

Abstract

Between 732 and 720 BCE, the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel marked a pivotal moment in the political history of the southern Levant, culminating in the establishment of the provinces of Magiddû and Samerina. The imprint of Assyrian dominance on these regions is evident through various archaeological remnants, reflecting the profound impact of the empire on local communities. This paper intends to delve into the transformation of settlement patterns within these provinces, elucidating their political and economic role within the empire and the extent of imperial territorial exploitation within the dynamic political landscape of the southern Levant. Central to this investigation is the assertion that the Assyrian administration favoured a process of ruralization within the newly formed provinces, characterized by the emergence of distinct ‘islands of control’. These are clusters of sites formed by a few administrative centres surrounded by a constellation of farm sites, interconnected by a network of roads. This recurring phenomenon emerges as a consistent motif throughout the Assyrian Empire, underscoring a strategy of territorial organization geared towards efficiently managing agricultural resources.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Keywords: Assyrian Empire; Iron Age; Southern Levant; Archaeology; Ancient Empires
• Fakultät: Kulturwissenschaften > Department für Kulturwissenschaften und Altertumskunde > Vorderasiatische Archäologie
• Themengebiete: 900 Geschichte und Geografie > 900 Geschichte
• ISSN: 0075-8914
• Sprache: Englisch