🦁 Assyrian

Who Are the Assyrians?

Assyrians (also called Syriacs, Chaldeans) are a Semitic people claiming descent from ancient Mesopotamian civilizations—the first to embrace Christianity (1st century CE). Numbering 3-5 million, they're scattered globally after waves of persecution and genocide. They speak Neo-Aramaic languages descended from the language Jesus spoke. Historically concentrated in northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, and northeastern Syria, 20th-century genocides and recent ISIS attacks have dispersed them worldwide. Various church denominations (Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic, Syriac Orthodox) reflect theological divisions but share ethnic identity. The community faces potential extinction in their homeland.

Ancient Heritage

Assyrians trace ancestry to the ancient Assyrian Empire (2500-609 BCE)—one of history's most powerful, spanning Mesopotamia, Egypt, and beyond. The empire's capital Nineveh (near modern Mosul) was the ancient world's largest city. After the empire's fall, the population persisted, adopting Christianity early and developing distinctive Syriac Christian culture. They preserved Greek philosophy through Arabic, contributing to the Islamic Golden Age. The claim of continuous descent from ancient Assyrians is debated by scholars—but functions as powerful identity, connecting modern Assyrians to one of humanity's earliest civilizations and distinguishing them from Arab neighbors.

Genocide and Diaspora

The Assyrian Genocide (Seyfo—"sword" in Aramaic) occurred alongside the Armenian Genocide during WWI; Ottoman forces and Kurdish irregulars killed 250,000-750,000 Assyrians—half or more of the pre-war population. This catastrophe, less internationally recognized than the Armenian Genocide, devastated communities in southeastern Turkey and northwestern Iran. Survivors fled to Iraq, Syria, and beyond. Subsequent persecutions—the 1933 Simele massacre in Iraq, Ba'athist repression, and 2014 ISIS attacks—continued the pattern. Today, more Assyrians live in diaspora (US, Sweden, Australia, Germany) than in the Middle East.

Church and Identity

Assyrian identity intertwines with Christianity—being Assyrian means being Christian (though church denomination varies). The Assyrian Church of the East (historically called "Nestorian") once spread from Mesopotamia to China and India. The Chaldean Catholic Church united with Rome in the 16th century; Syriac Orthodox maintain different liturgical traditions. Church affiliation often correlates with regional origin. All use Syriac (classical Aramaic) liturgically; Neo-Aramaic vernaculars persist in diaspora communities. Churches serve as community centers preserving language, culture, and identity. The question of whether Assyrian identity is primarily ethnic or religious generates debate.

Contemporary Assyrians

After ISIS attacked the Nineveh Plains in 2014, displacing 200,000+ Assyrians, the community's future in Iraq became existential. Some have returned, but emigration continues. The diaspora maintains identity through churches, cultural organizations, and Neo-Aramaic language education. Political movements seek recognition—Assyrian autonomous regions in Iraq, international genocide recognition, and indigenous rights. Language transmission to younger generations remains challenging. Whether Assyrians can survive in their ancestral homeland or become exclusively diaspora depends on security, economic opportunities, and community cohesion. The world's oldest Christian community faces an uncertain future.

References

• Travis, H. (2010). Genocide in the Middle East: The Ottoman Empire, Iraq, and Sudan
• Baum, W. & Winkler, D. (2003). The Church of the East: A Concise History
• Donabed, S. (2015). Reforging a Forgotten History: Iraq and the Assyrians in the Twentieth Century