Pre-1700 BCE: the Ancient Middle East Middle-Eastern empires

the rich, fertile lands of mesopotamia gave birth of oldest sedentary civilizations. sumerians, contributed later societies , credited several important innovations such writing, boats, , wheel.

over time, mesopotamia see rise , fall of many great civilizations make region 1 of vibrant , colorful in history, including empires of assyrians , trade kingdoms such lydians , phoenicians, of influential on neighboring civilizations.

north-west of mesopotamia hittites, first people use iron weapons. southwest egypt, land rich resources sustained thriving culture. considered historians 1 of oldest if not oldest civilization on earth.

sumerian empire

the cities of sumer had legacy of intercity warfare, , tools of these wars have been found in graves, such copper axes , blades. first chariot used extensively, , sumerians possessed dynamic , innovative military.

early cavalry employed shock troops, needed punch holes enemy lines allow infantry penetrate them, isolate pockets , eliminate them. used harass enemy flanks, , outflank enemies, , armies trembled @ sight of chariot force.

as infantry sumerians used heavy infantry phalanx, depicted on stele of vultures, commemorates victory on umma lagash in 2525 bce. these similar later macedonian phalanx, although ordnance wasn t quite advanced.

they carried spears , uncomfortable armor. sumerian armies made great use of skirmishers harass opponent. empire s remarkable ruler undoubtedly sargon great (of akkad) lived 2334–2279 bce , numbers among first great middle eastern rulers, great military tactician , strategist. credited first general use amphibious warfare in recorded history

after years of peace, sargon waged wars against rival elam, , launched separate attack on syria , lebanon. key sargon s victories, coordination in army movement, ability improvise tactics, combined arms strategy, , skill @ siege warfare, keeping of intelligence, relying on heavy reconnaissance.

after sargon s conquest of sumer, area enjoyed relatively peaceful , prosperous era – perhaps golden age. international trade flourished, merchants going sumer expanses of east, , vast resources of west. goods egypt, anatolia, iran , elsewhere flowed sargon s gargantuan kingdom. sargon s legacy 1 of trade , 1 of forming standing army, later rulers use offensively.

when sargon died, rimush, son, inherited empire, however, plagued constant uprisings – after died brother took throne. plagued constant rebellion, , later usurped naram-sin. naram-sin destroyed , dispersed sumerian rebels , went on vast campaign of conquest, taking armies lebanon, syria , palestine, , egypt. however, after naram-sin, dynasty went decline, , fell altogether.