Resettlement policy of the Neo-Assyrian Empire

One instance, the relocation of the Israelites in the late eighth century BCE was described in Biblical passages and came to be known as the Assyrian captivity.

Forced deportation and subsequent resettlement were used as tools of political domination and subjugation to maintain control over conquered people groups.

Large population groups were systematically transferred between different regions within the empire to strengthen their political unity or put down possible rebellions.

Imperial administrators planned the population transfers, taking into account political, economic, and cultural considerations.

In 720 BCE Sargon II resettled 6,300 Assyrians who were involved in a power struggle against him from the heartland of the empire to the newly conquered city of Hamat (modern Hama, Syria).

By ordering resettlement instead of execution of his enemies, the king displayed his mercy, political threats were removed from the empire's center, and the deportees were also beneficial in the reconstruction of the war-torn city.

This group included highly skilled people: craftsmen, scholars and cultural elites, whose resettlement in the empire's heartland would bring knowledge and wealth.

[6] At the same time, people from other parts of the empire were resettled in the depopulated areas of the then Assyrian province of Samerina.