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The Assyrians: Builders of the First Great Empire Are you ready to discover the story of one of the world's most powerful empires? The Assyrians built a mighty civilization over five thousand years ago that ruled the Middle East. Learn how they rose to power and what caused their sudden fall, all while shaping the world in ways we still feel today. What You'll Learn: Why They Built Ziggurats: Discover the meaning behind the stepped pyramids the Assyrians created. Their System of Writing: Find out how the Assyrians developed a writing system using wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. Ancient Consumer Rights: Did you know that Assyrians had rights when they bought goods like metal, animals, or even slaves? Learn about their surprisingly modern laws. The Many Meanings of "Ashur" See how one word could mean a god, a city, a nation, or its people and how this connected the Assyrians to their land and beliefs. The First Great Library: Meet King Ashurbanipal, who created the largest library of his time and helped preserve Assyrian knowledge for the future. Mass Relocations: Discover why Assyrian kings moved thousands of people across their empire, reshaping cities and cultures. A Postal System That Worked: The Assyrians had a reliable postal system; it was better than today's in some ways! However, you needed the right stamps to use it. Buried Ancestors: Learn how Assyrians buried their dead in basements and believed they could visit them for advice whenever needed. Beer in Assyrian Life: See why beer was a central part of Assyrian culture and how they brewed it. The Importance of Beards: If you were an upper-class Assyrian, the size of your beard showed your status. Bigger was definitely better! And so much more!