HISTORY 134

Professor Dyer
01 February 2015

MILITARY HISTORY
Assyrian Protective Gear

The Assyrian Empire was founded around 1900 BCE and has been
under rules of various kings. Even though the empire had been under
different kings rulings, their military had always remained strong. Defeating,
conquering, overthrowing, and claiming territories all with the hands of a
strong military, but what would any military be without strong, protective
gear?
Under Tiglath-pileser III (ruled 745-727 BCE) the Neo-Assyrian Empire
arose. For the first time in history the idea of centralization was introduced
into politics; the conquered provinces were organized under an elaborate
bureaucracy, with each district paying a fixed tribute and providing a military
contingent. The Assyrian forces became a standing army creating an
irresistible fighting machine. Assyrian policy became geared towards
conquering the known world. With this goal in mind, Tiglath-pileser III secured
the high-roads of commerce to the Mediterranean together with the
Phoenician seaports and then made himself master of Babylonia. 1
Their armies were highly trained and professional. And their troops had
a great deal of experience in battle. They were well organized into various
units of charioteers, cavalry, bowmen, and lancers. Assyrian armies also had
a corps of engineers who employed movable towers and iron-headed
battering rams for sieges on walled towns. Soldiers used iron weapons, which
were much stronger than the bronze weapons of some of their foes. The
Assyrians also built roads for the quick and easy movement of troops, so that
conquered rebelling kingdoms could easily be brought back under control.
1 Crabben, Jan Van D. "History of Assyria." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient.eu,
18 Jan. 2012. Web. 30 Jan. 2015. <http://www.ancient.eu/article/106/>.
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Fear was another tool used by the Assyrians. Although all wars are cruel, the
Assyrians were notorious for their widespread use of torture. 2
Iron swords, lances and armor strengthened the Assyrian army
because iron weapons were stronger than the bronze weapons used by other
civilizations of that era. Arrows from their deadly crossbows could penetrate
the armor of rival soldiers. About 1000BCE, the Assyrians introduced the first
cavalry. A cavalry is an army that fights on horseback. The saddle had not yet
been invented, so the Assyrian cavalry fought on the bare backs of their
horses.
The Assyrian cavalry was also better outfitted for war, with chain mail
and leather boots. Chain mail is a type of armor consisting of small metal
rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh. While other armies fought
in sandals, leather boots protected Assyrian soldiers while they were around
horses, and prepared the Assyrian army to fight in rough terrain and in cold
weather, rain and snow.

As it goes to show the Assyrian Empires military was very well

equipped for their time. It shows why they were able to take over many
territories, cities, and other empires. In terms of efficiency of organization, no
military staff (i.e. administrators, logistic officers and engineers) would reach
the proficiency of the Assyrian or Roman military staffs until the German
general staff of the 1870's. The prototype of a modern soldier's equipment
2 Assyrians: Cavalry and Conquests." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association,
n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2015. <http://www.ushistory.org/civ/4d.asp>.
3 Dowling, Mike. "The Assyrians." www.mrdowling.com. Updated December 30,
2014 . Web. 01 Jan 2015. <http://www.mrdowling.com/603-assyrians.html>
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(helmet, body armor, boots [a particular Assyrian innovation], and backpack)

was invented by ancient armies and disappeared for almost 1,000 years after
the fall of the Roman Empire.4

4 Metz, Karen. "Assyrian Military Facts." - Assyrian Knowledge. Assyrian Military

Facts, 05 May 2005. Web. 31 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.assyriatimes.com/assyrian/knowledge/assyrian-military-facts/71>.
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