The only book available that covers this subject, Warfare in the Ancient Near East is a groundbreaking and fascinating study of ancient near Eastern military history from the Neolithic era to the middle Bronze Ages.
Drawing on an extensive range of textual, artistic and archaeological data, William J. Hamblin synthesizes current knowledge and offers a detailed analysis of the military technology, ideology and practices of Near Eastern warfare.
Paying particular attention to the earliest known examples of holy war ideaology in Mesopotamia and Egypt, Hamblin focuses on:
Beautifully illustrated, including maps of the region, this book is essential for experts and non-specialists alike.
Chapter 1. The Neolithic Age and the origin of warfare {to c. 3000}
Chapter 2. Early Dynastic Mesopotamia {3500–2334}
Chapter 3. The Akkadian empire {2334–2190}
Chapter 4. The Neo-Sumerian period {2190–2004}
Chapter 5. War-carts and chariots
Chapter 6. Middle Bronze Mesopotamia {c. 2000–1600}
Chapter 7. Warfare in the age of Mari
Chapter 8. Mesopotamian siegecraft
Chapter 12. Pre-Dynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt {3500–2687}
Chapter 13. Old Kingdom Egypt {2687–2181}
Chapter 14. Warfare during the Old Kingdom
Chapter 15. First Intermediate Period Egypt {2190–2061}
Chapter 16. Middle Kingdom Egypt {2061–1786}
Chapter 17. The military system of the Middle Kingdom
Chapter 18. Early Second Intermediate Period Egypt {1786–1667}