9th century BC
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The 9th century BC (approximately 900–801 BC) was a period of one hundred years in the early history of the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Asia. By convention, the century began in the year 900 BC and ended in 801 BC; the numbering of years in this era counts backward, so the year 850 BC comes after 880 BC.
Our knowledge of this period comes from stone and clay inscriptions of Mesopotamian rulers, Egyptian records, and archaeological studies searching for the remains of ancient cities. The histories of earlier centuries of this kind generally contain year-by-year discrepancies, because the chronology relies on lists of rulers and astronomical events.
Mesopotamia and the Assyrian Empire
This century is marked by the rise of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Rulers including Ashurnasirpal II and his son Shalmaneser III expanded borders to the west, reaching the coasts of the Levant. Assyria employed a system of taxation and provincial administration, subjugating conquered peoples to pay annual tribute. The city of Nimrud (Kalhu) became the royal capital.
The Levant and Phoenicia
Phoenician city-states such as Tyre and Sidon strengthened their maritime trade across the Mediterranean and spread the alphabet, which became the basis for Greek and later writing systems. At the same time, the Levant was home to small Aramaic-speaking kingdoms and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, which maintained both alliances and conflicts with one another. The Mesha Stele from Moab is one of the significant inscriptions from this period.
The Mediterranean and Europe
Greece underwent recovery following the Dark Age: population increased, settlements became concentrated, leading to the emergence of city-states (polis). In Italy, the Villanovan culture appeared, a precursor to the Etruscans. In the southern Mediterranean, Mediterranean tradition indicates that Tyre established colonies on the coasts of North Africa, most notably Carthage.
Africa and Asia
Egypt was in the Third Intermediate Period, with power divided between Tanis and the high priests of Thebes. To the south, Nubia was emerging as a new power centered at Napata. In Asia, China was ruled by the early Zhou dynasty, while India was in the later Vedic period with increasing use of iron.