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====What was the Assyrian Empire?====

Nineveh was located in the middle of ancient Assyria, centered on the Tigris River in northern Mesopotamia in what would today be the northern part of Iraq. As part of the Fertile Crescent, much of Assyria had good soil that allowed a surplus in crops and exceptional population growth. Like many ancient cities, Nineveh was built on a mound for defense overlooking the Kosr River, which is a tributary of the Tigris River. Although much of Assyria was fertile cropland in ancient times, the area around Nineveh was exceptionally productive, making it an excellent location for a city. <ref> Mieroop, Marc van de. <i>A History of the Ancient Near East: ca. 3000-323 BC.</i> 2nd ed. (London: Blackwell, 2007), p. 3</ref> For most of Assyrian history, the primary political capital was located in the city of Ashur. Still, Nineveh’s importance gradually grew until it eclipsed the older city.