The Assyrian army was the largest standing army ever seen in the middle east or the mediterranean, and their tactics for capturing neighboring kingdoms were revolutionary to the ancient world. One particularly interesting strategy they would use is, soldiers called “Sappers” (soldiers who dug tunnels) would be sent to tunnel under the walls and weaken them for invasion. Ironically, Sappers were often crushed under the great weight of the walls! Also, the Assyrians drew rams into the city walls to break them down, therefore making the enemy weaker and more vulnerable. This tactic helped the Assyrians conquer most of Mesopotamia and beyond! The Assyrian’s last resort to clear enemy’s walls were the ladder’s men. Ladder’s men would carry varying sized ladders to the stronger walls that were not effected by the Sappers or the rams and climb up the ladders as archers laid cover-fire (developed before the Assyrian siege tower).