Where War Began: A Military History of the Middle East from the Birth of Civilization to Alexander the Great and the Romans

Since the dawn of Homo sapiens, bloody fighting between rival tribes and clans has existed, but war as we know it began in the ancient Near East, starting in the vital region near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern Iraq) and extending west to the Mediterranean Sea through what became the Holy Land of the Bible. Arthur Cotterell's history tells the story of how the development of civilization is also the story of the development of organized warfare, beginning with the Sumerians and Babylonians, who battled each other and the Persian Empire of Cyrus and Darius. Alexander the Great's legendary campaigns conquered Persia and ventured east into modern India, refining the Greek hoplite tactics that remained standard for many hundreds of years. After Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire began to exert its power in the region, especially at its colonies in Judea and Syria. Where War Began is a lively narrative of the origins of war in a region that is still afflicted by war and that still shapes global politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2022
Publisher: Stackpole Books

Since the dawn of Homo sapiens, rival tribes and clans have engaged in bloody combat, marking the beginning of organized warfare. However, the ancient Near East witnessed the emergence of war in its more structured forms, which began in the vital region near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (modern-day Iraq) and eventually extended westward to the Mediterranean Sea through what became the Holy Land of the Bible. This region, which was eventually contested by Egypt, the Roman Empire, and others, extended north and east into the mountains of Persia (modern-day Iran).

In this comprehensive and accessible history, Arthur Cotterell explores how the development of civilization is intricately linked to the evolution of organized warfare. This narrative commences approximately 4,000 to 3,000 BC with the Sumerians, one of the earliest dominant civilizations in fertile Mesopotamia. The Sumerians eventually yielded to the Babylonians, whose reign witnessed the emergence of rudimentary "great power" rivalries with Egypt and the Hittites, culminating in the pivotal Battle of Kadesh (1274 BC). This period concluded with the downfall of Babylon and the ascent of other powers, including the Persian Empire under Cyrus and Darius, one of the renowned ancient dynasties. The Persians engaged in direct conflict with the Greeks, as documented by Herodotus, and indirectly through rival Persian factions engaged in battles among themselves, as recounted by Xenophons in his account of the legendary Ten Thousand.

Subsequently, the Near East was dominated by Alexander the Great, whose legendary campaigns conquered Persia and ventured eastward into modern India. During this era, the Greek hoplite tactics, which remained the standard for many centuries, underwent refinement. Following Alexander the Great, the rise of the Seleucids and Parthians saw Persia once again become a significant power. The Parthian Empire, under the rule of Arsaces II, extended its influence to encompass vast territories, including modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The empire's military prowess and strategic alliances with local tribes made it a formidable force to be reckoned with.

In conclusion, the history of organized warfare in the ancient Near East is a complex and multifaceted narrative that spans thousands of years. From the Sumerians to the Babylonians, the Persians, and the Greeks, the region witnessed the rise and fall of great empires, the development of military tactics, and the interplay of power dynamics. This history continues to shape the world we live in today, as the legacies of these ancient civilizations continue to influence political, economic, and cultural landscapes.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 160 x 236 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780811771450