ASSYRIA-EGYPT RELATIONS FROM THE ASSYRIAN PERSPECTIVE

Öz

Assyrian-Egyptian relations constitute one of the most important military and political rivalries in history. The decisive point in this relationship was the dominance of the Levant, which had political and economic importance for both states. While Assyria started to shape its policies on the Levant, especially in the Neo-Assyrian Period, Egypt's policies on the region had a longer history. When the Assyrian kings, who gained power in the Neo-Assyrian Age, started to expand in the western direction and established direct contact with the eastern Mediterranean cities, which were important commercial kingdoms, this situation disturbed Egypt and Egypt took some measures against Assyria. At this point, the main method used by Egypt was to provoke the local kings against Assyria. Thus, rebellions against Assyrian rule occurred frequently in the region and Assyrian kings had to organise military expeditions to the region. In the face of this situation, the Assyrian kings, who had to constantly fight against the rebellions, tried to eliminate Egypt, one of the most important sources of rebellions, and military expeditions were organised to the Egyptian country during the Asarhaddon Period. In this study, the progress and consequences of Assyrian-Egyptian relations in the light of Assyrian royal annals and reliefs will be discussed.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Assyria
• Egypt
• Levant
• War
• Trade

ASUR PERSPEKTİFİNDEN ASUR-MISIR İLIŞKİLERİ

Öz

Asur Mısır ilişkileri askeri ve siyasi açısından tarihin en önemli rekabetlerinden birisini oluşturmaktadır. Bu ilişkide belirleyici olan nokta iki devlet açısından da siyasi ve ekonomik öneme sahip olan Levant bölgesinin hâkimiyetiydi. Asur özellikle Yeni Asur Devri ile birlikte özellikle ticari fayda güttüğü Levan üzerinde politikalarını şekillendirmeye başlarken, Mısır’ın bölge üzerindeki politikalarının geçmişi daha eski bir geçmişe sahipti. Yeni Asur Çağı’nda güç kazanan Asur kralları batı yönünde genişlemeye ve önemli ticari krallıklar olan doğu Akdeniz kentleriyle doğrudan temas kurunca bu durum Mısır’ı rahatsız etmiş ve Asur’a karşı bir takım önlemler alma yoluna gitmiştir. Bu noktada Mısır’ın başvurduğu temel yöntem yerel kralları Asur’a karşı kışkırtmak olmuştur. Böylece bölgede Asur hakimiyetine karşı sık sık isyanlar meydana gelmiş ve Asur krallarının bölgeye askeri seferler düzenleme zorunluluğu ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu durum karşısında sürekli isyanlarla mücadele etmek zorunda kalan Asur kralları sorunu kökten halletmek için isyanların en önemli kaynaklarından birisi olan Mısır’ı ortadan kaldırma yoluna gitmiş ve Asarhaddon Devri ile birlikte Mısır ülkesine askeri seferler düzenlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada Asur kraliyet yıllıkları ve rölyefleri ışığında Asur-Mısır ilişkilerinin ne şekilde ilerlediği ve doğurduğu sonuçlar ele alınacaktır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Asur
• Mısır
• Levant
• Savaş
• Ticaret

Kaynakça

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