Historical criticism

Probably Astell's statement is not intended to be as sweeping as it appears.

Babylonia and Assyria also had their libraries, according to Professor Sacy, The Higher Criticism and the Monuments.

They were filled with libraries, and the libraries with thousands of books.

The royal library, already referred to as furnishing so rich a treasure of cuneiform tablets, was begun by Sennacherib, who reigned 705 to 681 BC, and completed by Assur-Bani-Pal, who reigned about 668 to 626 BC.