Empire 292. Ancient Gaza: From The Assyrians to The Romans (Part 2)
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Sep 22, 2025 Josephine Quinn, a Professor of Ancient History at the University of Cambridge and author, brings her expertise on Gaza and ancient Near Eastern empires. She discusses why the Assyrians spared Gaza while conquering the Levant, the Babylonians' devastation and subsequent Persian administration that granted local autonomy, and Alexander the Great's brutal siege of the city. Quinn highlights Gaza's resilience under Roman rule, transforming into a prosperous trade hub despite repeated sackings.
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Gath's Black Line Explained
- The destruction of Gath is uniquely well-attested archaeologically and in the Bible as Hazael's siege around 830 BCE.
- This event marks the rise of inland polities like Aram Damascus before Assyrian dominance.
Assyria's Military-Bureaucratic Revolution
- The Assyrian Empire built a hierarchical, militarised bureaucracy with logistics like mule postal services and roads.
- They pursued universal empire and used mass deportation to supply labour and neutralise opposition.
Assyrians Preserved Ports For Trade
- Assyrians often spared coastal port cities like Gaza to preserve trade and revenue rather than destroy them.
- Sidon was an exception where destruction forced Assyria to re-establish port infrastructure.
