Among the three changes of the Iron Age I mentioned in the last entry included the innovation in ancient warfare. The most representative entity of Iron Age warfare was the Neo Assyrian Empire, the first ever empire to unite Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia under a single crown. Why does this matter? Until the Iron Age, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Anatolia were the three greatest powerhouses of the known world and numerous attempts to unite them all failed. Assyria united three ancient chokepoints and scholars often recognize Assyria as the first empire instead of Akkad because it extended only within Mesopotamia. Assyria’s transformation into the first “real” empire in history is a complex mix of different events and their aftermath, and it is very difficult to clarify specific reasons for Assyria’s dominance. Personally, I think the most influential factors in Assyrian dominance was its military innovation, both in terms of weaponry and structure.
The Assyrians are known by many feats, but I think military innovation characterizes them the most. The Hittites and the Egyptians are the first known people to melt metal and create steel, but the Assyrians were the first to use them for military weapons. Many make the mistake of thinking that the Hittites were the first to create steel weapons, but the Hittite’s steel wasn’t strong enough to overcome traditional bronze weapons. On the other hand, Assyrian steel (forged centuries after that of the Hittites) was stronger, lighter, and more durable, giving Assyrian soldiers a huge advantage on the battlefield.
The Assyrian army consisted of infantry, cavalry, and a group of war chariots. Each division was suited to perform tasks they are best at, and the Assyrians effectively deployed each group to take the upper hand in battle. The Assyrians also developed a battering ram to break easily through the enemies’ defense. I think the invention of the battering ram especially proved advantageous to the Assyrians as the traditional Mesopotamian cities preferred to build walls around the cities to prevent soldiers from breaching. Rams battering at the front made it much easier for the Assyrians to break through walls and demolish any defense. The engineers of Assyria pioneered warfare engineering, and Assyrian machines were incorporated by many empires that followed.
Assyrian military innovation didn’t end with the development of steel weapons and warfare machineries. The Assyrians were one of the first to obligate men to serve in the military. The Assyrians required men to serve for at least three years, regardless of their social status. Assyrian conscription had many benefits, but I believe the most integral part of conscription in the Assyrian Empire was to be able to maintain and mobilize a regular active military force at any time. I think maintaining a military force of a certain size allowed Assyria to prepare for new campaigns and quell invasion or rebellions very swiftly. Their innovative approach to warfare surely gave the Assyrians an advantage over other neighbors as they rose into an empire. However, as I mentioned earlier, Assyria’s rise to dominance wasn’t necessarily all about its military prowess. One other factor that greatly influenced Assyrian supremacy was the vacancy in power due to the fall of many neighboring rivals. Assyria had faced far less resistance in building the largest empire at that time. Assyria’s rise was rather “quick and easy”, but it would have not been possible without its military prowess.