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The Rise of Urartu and the Decline of Nairi (860 BCE)
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In the early 9th century BCE, the geopolitical landscape of the Armenian Highlands underwent a significant transformation as the kingdom of Urartu emerged as a dominant power, gradually supplanting the loosely organized confederation of tribes and city-states known as Nairi.
Nairi was a collective term used by Assyrian inscriptions (particularly those of Shalmaneser III) to describe a group of small, semi-independent principalities in the region of Lake Van and the upper Tigris River. These tribes lacked centralized authority, making them vulnerable to external pressures, particularly from the expanding Assyrian Empire, which frequently raided the area for tribute and resources.
Around 860 BCE, a new power—Urartu—began consolidating under a centralized monarchy, possibly in response to Assyrian aggression. The early Urartian kings, such as Aramu (or Arame), united various Nairi tribes under their rule, establishing a formidable state with its heartland around Tushpa (modern Van, Turkey).
Urartu's rise marked a shift from tribal confederations to a more structured, militarized kingdom capable of resisting Assyria. By the late 9th century BCE, Urartu had absorbed much of Nairi's territory, becoming the dominant power in the region.
Urartu would go on to become a major rival of Assyria, flourishing until its eventual decline in the 6th century BCE. The absorption of Nairi into Urartu marked an important step in the political and cultural development of the Armenian Highlands, laying the groundwork for later Armenian kingdoms.
Note: Historical records from this period are sparse and rely heavily on Assyrian inscriptions, which may be biased. Further archaeological discoveries could refine our understanding of this transition.
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