The Library of Ashurbanipal – TEST

The Library of Ashurbanipal is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the ancient world. Located in Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire (in what is now northern Iraq), this was the first systematically organized library in the ancient Middle East, created for the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, who ruled from 669 to around 631 BCE.

The image above shows a grand, elevated library with wide stone steps, detailed Assyrian carvings, and a peaceful riverside location—highlighting its role as a proud center of learning, culture, and scholarship in ancient Nineveh.

Ashurbanipal was more than just a king—he was a scholar and collector of knowledge. He ordered scribes to gather writings from across Mesopotamia and store them on clay tablets, written in cuneiform, the world’s oldest known writing system. Over 30,000 clay tablets and fragments were discovered in the ruins of his palace in the 1800s and 1900s.

The library included:

  • Epics like The Epic of Gilgamesh
  • Scientific and medical texts
  • Omens, prayers, and incantations
  • Dictionaries and bilingual lists
  • Folk tales and myths

While fire destroyed much of Nineveh in 612 BCE, the clay tablets were actually preserved by being baked in the heat. This accidental preservation gave historians access to one of the richest collections of texts from the ancient Near East.

H.G. Wells even described it as “the most precious source of historical material in the world.”

Watch:

Dr. Irving Finkel, a cuneiform expert at the British Museum, is one of the world’s leading translators of these tablets. He helps decode the ancient stories, beliefs, and everyday lives of the people who lived over 2,000 years ago.

You can watch Dr. Finkel talk about the library and decoding cuneiform here:

The Great Library of Nineveh with Irving Finkel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls9JkxFEB9g&t=649s 

Cracking Ancient Codes: Cuneiform Writing – with Irving Finkel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfYYraMgiBA&t=36s 

YouTube Search: “Irving Finkel Library of Ashurbanipal”

Or start here: British Museum Video: Meet Irving Finkel

Research:

Use the following questions to guide your research online or with your Parent/Teacher:

  1. What is cuneiform writing, and how was it made?
  2. Why is the Library of Ashurbanipal considered such a significant discovery?
  3. What was Ashurbanipal’s role in collecting these works?
  4. How does this library compare to the more famous Library of Alexandria, which was later destroyed?
  5. What can these texts tell us about life, science, religion, and storytelling in ancient Mesopotamia?

Explore:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/library-fit-king

https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/i-am-ashurbanipal-king-world-king-assyria

Create:

Write a short summary (1–2 paragraphs) explaining:

  1. Who Ashurbanipal was
  2. Why his library is important
  3. What historians have learned from the tablets

You can also draw a simple diagram of what you think the library might have looked like, or illustrate a cuneiform tablet.

Share:

Present your findings to your Parent/Teacher. You may also record a video or write a script for a short podcast episode where you explain what made Ashurbanipal’s library such a big deal.

Bonus Activity:

Take a virtual field trip by looking at this real street view of the British Museum:

Explore the British Museum

Download the ‘How It Works’ Guide

August is almost here, and the countdown to September 2nd has officially begun! Whether you’re just getting started or already learning on your own schedule, now’s the time to make sure your homeschool setup is ready to go.

If you’re new to DK12 this year, we recommend checking out our ‘How It Works’ Guide. This step-by-step walkthrough will show you how to navigate your student dashboard, follow the curriculum, and get the most out of DK12. It’s a quick read—and a great way to feel confident and organized as you move forward.

Download the ‘How It Works’ Guide (PDF)

If you’re still enjoying summer break, we’ll be here when you’re ready to return. For help at any time, email us at info@discoveryk12.com.

– The DK12 Team

Prep for the 2025/2026 School Year!

The new school year is almost here, and we’re excited to welcome families back for another year of learning with Discovery K12.

If you’re following our traditional schedule, daily assignments resume Tuesday, September 2nd. But remember—all 180 days of curriculum are available year-round, so you can jump in anytime. Many families are already getting started on their own timeline, and that flexibility is what makes homeschooling with DK12 so effective.

Now’s the time to make sure your student is ready to move up. We recommend taking our Assessment Tests, with results available inside your Parent/Teacher Account to help guide placement and track progress.

It’s also the perfect time to get organized: use the PTA’s built-in tools to finalize transcripts, log attendance, and close out last year before kicking off the new one.

If you’re still enjoying summer break, we hope it’s been a good one—we’ll be here when you’re ready to return.

For help at any time, email us at info@discoveryk12.com.

– The DK12 Team

End-of-Year Assessment Testing!

Now is the time for End-of-Year Assessment Testing!

What does your child know?
Are they at grade level, below, or above?
Are they ready to move to the next level?

As the school year wraps up, it’s the perfect moment to get a clear picture of where your student stands academically. Our built-in Assessment Test is simple, no-prep, and fully online—designed to help you evaluate your child’s understanding of core subjects including spelling, math, history/social studies, and science.

Use the results to see if they’re ready to move on, or if extra review over summer might be helpful. You’ll get instant feedback right inside your Parent/Teacher Account to guide your next steps with confidence.

Learn more and get started today:

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Whether your student is graduating this year or just finishing a milestone grade, the Parent/Teacher Account gives you everything you need to document progress and prepare for what’s next.

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