Isaiah

In 721 BC, Assyria came from the north, captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and took the people away.

Named after the god Ashur, the highest in their panthenon

Bordered on the west by the Syrian desert, on the south by Babylonia, on the north and east by the Persian and Urarthian hills. Today it is primarily Iraq.

First became an independent nation between 1813 and 1781 BC.

Warfare was a science to Assyria, and they were well-known for their cruelty in treating of prisoners (which is one reason prophecies against Israel should have been very strong warnings)