<P> Late in his reign, the Middle Assyrian Empire erupted into civil war, when a rebellion was orchestrated by Tukulti - Mer, a pretender to the throne of Assyria . Ashur - bel - kala eventually crushed Tukulti - Mer and his allies, however the civil war in Assyria had allowed hordes of Arameans to take advantage of the situation, and press in on Assyrian controlled territory from the west . Ashur - bel - kala counterattacked them, and conquered as far as Carchemish and the source of the Khabur river, but by the end of his reign many of the areas of Syria and Phoenicia - Canaan to the west of these regions as far as the Mediterranean, previously under firm Assyrian control, were eventually lost to the Assyrian Empire . </P> <P> The Middle Assyrian kingdom was well organized, and in the firm control of the king, who also functioned as the High Priest of Ashur, the state god . He had certain obligations to fulfill in the cult, and had to provide resources for the temples . The priesthood became a major power in Assyrian society . Conflicts with the priesthood are thought to have been behind the murder of king Tukulti - Ninurta I . </P> <P> The Middle Assyrian Period was marked by the long wars fought that helped build Assyria into a warrior society . The king depended on both the citizen class and priests in his capital, and the landed nobility who supplied the horses needed by Assyria's military . Documents and letters illustrate the importance of the latter to Assyrian society . Assyria needed less artificial irrigation than Babylonia, and horse - breeding was extensive . Portions of elaborate texts about the care and training of them have been found . Trade was carried out in all directions . The mountain country to the north and west of Assyria was a major source of metal ore, as well as lumber . Economic factors were a common casus belli . </P> <P> All free male citizens were obliged to serve in the army for a time, a system which was called the ilku - service . A legal code was produced during the 14th and 13th centuries which, among other things, clearly shows that the social position of women in Assyria was lower than that of neighbouring societies . Men were permitted to divorce their wives with no compensation paid to the latter . If a woman committed adultery, she could be beaten or put to death . It's not certain if these laws were seriously enforced, but they appear to be a backlash against some older documents that granted things like equal compensation to both partners in divorce . </P>

Where did the assyrians get wood for building