Part 6/9:
The golden age of Assyria arrived with Tiglath-Pileser III in 745 BC, marking the birth of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. His military restructuring efforts included forming a professional army and instituting the practice of deportation—uprooting conquered populations to suppress identities and reduce the chances of rebellion. This practice effectively erased connections to homelands. Thus, the Assyrians not only expanded militarily but assimilated diverse populations into their empire, contributing to the cultural tapestry of the ancient Near East.