Abstract
<jats:p>The Middle Assyrian period (c. 1416–935 BC) in the history of Assyria was a decisive epoch in the military history of the Ancient Near East. Following the collapse of the Old Assyrian “trading network” state, Assyria entered a stage of social and political fragmentation from which it recovered only in the Middle Assyrian period. Owing to its remarkable military organization and tactics, during this period Assyria transformed itself from a city-state into a territorial and then a regional state. During this period it underwent significant territorial expansion. The challenges of maintaining and defending these expanded territories led to innovations in military organization and administration. All of this implied the formation of a professional, well-organized army capable of waging both invasion campaigns and defensive actions. The development of military terminology during this period reflects the transitional stage in the formation of the Assyrian army. The Middle Assyrian Empire represents a decisive and at the same time transitional stage in the development of ancient military organization. The innovations of this period, including the professional army, specialized units, the use of foreign troops, and a more centralized command structure, laid the foundation for the more effective Neo-Assyrian military machine. The transition to a professional army, combined with the development of specialized units and implementation of a more sophisticated logistics, created a military system capable of conducting campaigns over unprecedented distances and even providing logistical support.</jats:p>