The ancient Mesopotamians developed pioneering military technology and techniques out of necessity to control fertile land and resources. They fought with organized armies equipped with innovations like chariots, battering rams, and iron weapons. Mesopotamian warfare was also characterized by alliances between city-states, propaganda to intimidate enemies, and professional standing armies. These military developments would influence later civilizations and some tactics are still used today, such as alliances to maintain balance of power and propaganda in media.

1. Mesopotamian War
Information about the ancient
Mesopotamians’ way of fighting a war.
By Rhys

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.)

5. Background cont’
• The constant warfare between city-states
spurred the development of weapons and
technique.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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!

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. How Did Mesopotamian war change
the world today?
• 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.

15. 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.

16. Resources
• http://library.thinkquest.org/J002807/Time%20and%20Time%20Again/Ti
me%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