Considering the case of the Assyrians, how effective do you believe fear can be in maintaining an empire in the long term?

The Assyrians were people that lived in the Middle East, being one of the dominant forces in the region for quite some time. Since the formation of the state, and to its end, Assyria existed approximately 1,900 years, making it one of the longest lasting states or empires. The Assyrians were known the most for their military skills and brutality. Apart from using its strong military and brutal ways for conquering, the Assyrians were also using them for keeping everything under control in the territory they already controlled. While their methods were very cruel, it suited them very well, as that open aggression and using the fear factor made them an empire that managed to outlive most of its counterparts, so we can say that their methods were very efficient for maintaining the empire on the long run.

Considering the "case of the Assyrians", it can be concluded that the fear of the ruler can be highly effective in maintaining an empire in the long term.

Explanation:

The Assyrians ruled over a "vast region in the Middle East" for almost 1900 years. Not only their enemies feared them, but also their own subjects were afraid of the Assyrian rulers for a number of reasons. First of those reasons was the brutal punishments that were given by the Assyrian rulers for even the smallest of mistakes. The second being the might of their army and the dominance they had over the region. Many such reasons for their fear in the minds of their subjects and their enemies proved effective in maintaining their empire in the long term.