Post on 11-Apr-2017
Mesopotamian WarInformation about the ancient Mesopotamians’ way of fighting a war.By Rhys
Introduction
The ancient Mesopotamian warfare was a pioneering system that combined military technology and technique. The system inspired other ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, the Persians, the Medes, etc.
Background
• The Fertile Crescent was a natural rich food-growing area where most of the land was too dry for farming.
• Ancient Mesopotamians fought for the control of the two rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates.
Background cont’
• They fought for all things good:– Transportation– Irrigation– Security (Offense is best defense!)– Economic gain (More land, timber, stone, metal;
more prisoners, slaves, tax.)– Spirituality (War was considered a divine mission
to get more followers to their national god.)
Background cont’
• The constant warfare between city-states spurred the development of weapons and technique.
Technology And Inventions
• Chariot - the military application of the wheel.– Considered as one of the
major military innovations in history.
– Pulled by wild asses.– For battlefield
transportation. Not built for speedy attacks.
Technology And Inventions cont’
• Battering ram – heavy log carried by many men and wheels to break down city walls.– Wheels allowed men to move the
heavy logs quicker and easier.– Sophisticated design – archers are
placed above to attack from a high level.
Technology And Inventions cont’
• Iron – sturdy material that the Assyrians used to make weapons.– Iron is stronger than copper and
tin.– The Hittites developed the
process of smelting and the Assyrians borrowed that skill.
– The Assyrians’ power was partly owed to their stronger weapons.
Technique and strategy
• Army organization – well-organized attacks, not rushed dog-fights.– Spearmen would come first, who were
equipped with copper helmets, leather shields, short spears and heavy cloaks.
– Followed by chariots, loaded with supplies and ammunition.
– Lastly, infantrymen armed with sickle-swords came to the battle.
Technique and strategy Cont’
• Professional soldier – a year-round career.– Assyrian farmer-soldiers used to fight only in the
summer, when they didn’t need to worry about planting and harvesting. But it changed later.
Technique and strategy cont’
• Political alliances – found allied city-states to help them in war and arguments.– When two city-states have an argument over land
and canals, they will find a third neutral city to be the arbitrator.
– So the city-states formed unions to support each
other!
Technique and strategy cont’
• Propaganda – conquering without fighting.– Assyrian warriors were very cruel, they spread
death and destruction to other city-states .– They also spread out stories of their own
cruelty.– Enemies were so frightened, they
surrendered without a fight.
How Did Mesopotamian war change the world today?• The chariot was a vehicle for transportation
and attack on the battlefield. It resembles a tank in the modern times.
• Even nowadays, being a soldier is still a job.
• With alliances, countries and states will have each other checked. The balance of power can create peace.
• Organization like the United Nations serves as an arbitrator in disputes between countries.
How Did Mesopotamian war change the world today?
• Propaganda is basically the same thing as advertisements. Even nowadays, we are often brainwashed to act or believe.
How Did Mesopotamian war change the world today?
Resources • http://
library.thinkquest.org/J002807/Time%20and%20Time%20Again/Time%20and%20Time%20Again/mesoassyr.html
• http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/warfare/home_set.html• The Cartoon History of the Universe Volume 1-7 by Larry Gonick• http://joseph_berrigan.tripod.com/ancientbabylon/id46.html• Mr. Dowling’s Study Sheet on Mesopotamia• http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/ED/TRC/MESO/warfare.html