The political and military conflict of Gaza against the workforce from Mesopotamia (539-734 BC)

Abstract

The city of Gaza, located in southern Syria on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and on the border with Egypt, because of its important and prominent strategic position, was subjected to many military campaigns by the political forces of Mesopotamia, Assyria and Babylonia, from the seventh century, until the middle of the fifth century BC, when those The city is the gateway to entry for all foreign forces seeking to invade Egypt. . In addition, the political forces in Egypt also sought, for their part, to control that city to secure its political and geographical borders. Accordingly, the military forces from Mesopotamia sought to use that city after controlling it as a military base to invade Egypt, and this was confirmed by the cuneiform written sources that dated The conduct of the military campaigns on Gaza City by the kings of the Assyrian state and the Neo-Babylonian state. The motivation for the military campaigns against Gaza City during the first millennium BC was primarily economic, as the city enjoyed great commercial importance for the merchants of southern and northern Arabia. The military forces from Mesopotamia were able to control the city and subject it to their direct authority politically and militarily. The city was not subject to the military authority from Mesopotamia; Except by force, declaring it a emirate of rebellion and disobedience several times, and the king of the city allied with Egypt. All attempts to rebel against Assyrian control failed. The city of Gaza was taken as a base for launching military campaigns against Egypt, by the military forces from Mesopotamia, and it was also forced to pay a tax (tribute) by all the kings who controlled it.