Answer :
The Assyrians weren't just cruel, they were aggressive and harsh on other people. This helped keep other people in check, but sparks rebellion at the same time. So it's a calculated risk. Because their cruelty and aggressiveness led them to expand their empire as much as possible, I think their unneccesary cruelty helped them for awhile but led to their downfall in the end.
Hope this helps!
Hope this helps!
