Later History

After their fall from prominence (especially after 850 bc), the Kassites continued to live in the border region of Elam and Media between what is today modern-day Iraq and Iran. They were skilled with the bow and remained a warlike, formidable people who practiced extortion and guerrilla-like practices against those passing through their region. Brinkman records that on a march to Ecbatana, the Greek general Antigonus (382–301 bc) refused to pay for safe passage through the Kassite region and experienced many casualties (Brinkman, “Kassiten,” 471). The Kassites later fought against the Assyrians (e.g., Tiglath-pileser III, Sennacherib 702 bc) and served in the Achaemenid Imperial army of Darius III against Alexander the Great.