literate their national aspirations. A conqueror of Babylon had to
become a Babylonian. The Amorites and Kassites had in turn to adopt
the modes of life and modes of thought of the native population. Like
the Egyptians, the Babylonians ever achieved the intellectual conquest
of their conquerors.

The Assyrian Empire, on the other hand, collapsed like a house of
cards when its army of mercenaries suffered a succession of disasters.
The kings, as we have indicated, depended on the tribute of subject
States to pay their soldiers and maintain the priesthood; they were
faced with national bankruptcy when their vassals successfully
revolted against them.

The history of Assyria as a world power is divided into three periods:
(1) the Old Empire; (2) the Middle Empire; (3) the New or Last Empire.

We have followed the rise and growth of the Old Empire from the days
of Ashur-uballit until the reign of Tukulti-Ninip, when it flourished
in great splendour and suddenly went to pieces. Thereafter, until the
second period of the Old Empire, Assyria comprised but a few city
States which had agricultural resources and were trading centres. Of
these the most enterprising was Asshur. When a ruler of Asshur was
able, by conserving his revenues, to command sufficient capital with
purpose to raise a strong army of mercenaries as a business
speculation, he set forth to build up a new empire on the ruins of the
old. In its early stages, of course, this process was slow and
difficult. It necessitated the adoption of a military career by native
Assyrians, who officered the troops, and these troops had to be
trained and disciplined by engaging in brigandage, which also brought
them rich rewards for their services. Babylonia became powerful by
developing the arts of peace; Assyria became powerful by developing
the science of warfare.

CHAPTER XVI.

RACE MOVEMENTS THAT SHATTERED EMPIRES

The Third Semitic Migration--Achaean Conquest of Greece--Fall of
Crete--Tribes of Raiders--European Settlers in Asia Minor--The Muski
overthrow the Hittites--Sea Raids on Egypt--The Homeric
Age--Israelites and Philistines in Palestine--Culture of
Philistines--Nebuchadrezzar I of Babylonia--Wars against Elamites
and Hittites--Conquests in Mesopotamia and Syria--Assyrians and
Babylonians at War--Tiglath-pileser I of Assyria--His Sweeping
Conquests--Muski Power broken--Big-game Hunting in
Mesopotamia--Slaying of a Sea Monster--Declin