Book contents
- The Cambridge History of International Law
- The Cambridge History of International Law
- Frontispiece
- The Cambridge History of International Law
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Plates
- Figures
- Contributors
- Preface
- A Note on the Text
- Part I International Law in the Ancient Near East (Third Millennium–500 bc)
- 1 The Ancient Near East and International Law
- 2 Territory and Jurisdiction in West Asia
- 3 War and Peace in the Ancient Near East
- 4 Trade and Communication in the Ancient Near East
- 5 Diplomacy in the Ancient Near East
- 6 Dispute Settlement in the Ancient Near East
- Part II International law in the Greek and Roman world (600 bc–ad 650)
- Index
- Plate Section
- References
3 - War and Peace in the Ancient Near East
from Part I - International Law in the Ancient Near East (Third Millennium–500 bc)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: aN Invalid Date NaN
General editor
Book contents
- The Cambridge History of International Law
- The Cambridge History of International Law
- Frontispiece
- The Cambridge History of International Law
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Plates
- Figures
- Contributors
- Preface
- A Note on the Text
- Part I International Law in the Ancient Near East (Third Millennium–500 bc)
- 1 The Ancient Near East and International Law
- 2 Territory and Jurisdiction in West Asia
- 3 War and Peace in the Ancient Near East
- 4 Trade and Communication in the Ancient Near East
- 5 Diplomacy in the Ancient Near East
- 6 Dispute Settlement in the Ancient Near East
- Part II International law in the Greek and Roman world (600 bc–ad 650)
- Index
- Plate Section
- References
Summary
This chapter explores the intertwined concepts of war and peace in the political, religious and cultural frameworks of the ancient Near East, particularly in Mesopotamia and Assyria. It traces the evolution of warfare from early city state conflicts to the large-scale imperial campaigns of the first millennium BC. The text examines how war was legitimized through divine sanction, ritual practices and ideological narratives, portraying kings as divinely mandated warriors. It also details the organization of armies, military technologies and intelligence strategies, especially under the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Peace is presented not as the absence of war but as a condition imposed through treaties, vassalage and imperial control, often following conquest. The chapter highlights the theological and ritual dimensions of both war and peace, including divination, purification and treaty ceremonies. It concludes by addressing the human cost of war, the role of deportations, and the post-war integration of conquered peoples. Through a multidisciplinary lens, the chapter reveals how war and peace were central to statecraft, ideology and societal order in the ancient Near East.
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- Chapter
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- The Cambridge History of International Law , pp. 62 - 91Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
References
Further Reading
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