Final answer:
Cities in Mesopotamia engaged in warfare primarily over territory, captives, and wealth, with formidable defensive structures reflecting the frequency of these conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Mesopotamia, war was a common occurrence among the various city-states, primarily because these cities fought over territory, potential captives, and wealth. The cities in Mesopotamia, including notable ones such as Ur, Babylon, and Nineveh, constructed massive defensive walls, indicating the frequency of warfare.
Although most soldiers were peasant conscripts with minimal armor and weapons, the formidable defensive structures often made outright conquest difficult.
Agriculture and the control of water played a crucial role in the economy of these city-states, intensifying the struggle over these resources. With much of the arable land controlled by temples, kings, and other landowners, and with the productivity of agriculture being central to a city's success, conflicts often erupted over these valuable assets.
Additionally, the accumulation of wealth within city walls attracted foreign invaders, so wars were also fought as power moves to display dominance and to prevent incursions from these groups.
Aside from combating external threats, internal political structures, such as the alliance between priesthoods and the warrior elite, also fueled conflicts. Cities believed to be 'owned' by patron gods reflected a spiritual dimension to warfare, where city-state conflicts could represent divine disputes. However, diplomatic relations were valued, with long-term strategies, including royal marriages and alliances, serving as tools to avoid warfare when possible.
Eventually, innovation and rivalry persisted among cities like Isin and Larsa, even adopting the cultures of conquered cities, such as Ur, which eventually crumbled under the pressure of invasions. Nonetheless, these actions provided only temporary solutions and the cycle of warfare and empire-building continued.