Mesopotamian Warfare

Strategies

War itself in ancient Mesopotamia was largely a seasonal event. That's because more men could go fight a war during non-agricultural periods than when they had to stay home and cultivate the crops.

The way the armies conducted warfare in ancient Mesopotamia differed from nation to nation. Some had strict rules about when they could engage an enemy, such as when they were ready to fight. Others were allowed the ability to launch a surprise attack as a great military tactic.

The military units usually consisted of ten, fifty, or one hundred men. Larger units could be formed if need be. The entire military itself could be divided into large contingents of troops, often headed by members of the royal family. The king himself had important officers in charge of the military as well. For example, the field marshal would execute the king's order and even lead the troops into battle if the king did not. He had lots of different types of troops he could lead into battle, including numerous different kinds of foot soldiers, charioteers, cavalry, engineers, and supply personnel.

Military tactics of the day also relied on spies that gathered intelligence about a foreign army, leader, or general environmental conditions so that the King's army knew how best to navigate a land. (FC)