Different Motivations

In the “Rituals of War,” Bahrani talks about how there are certain way things were carried out in Ancient Mesopotamian warfare. From the ways the of starting warfare through divine signs in animals and in nature to the ways war were fought. The reasons why the wars were fought in such manner, according to Bahrani, were for cultural assimilation rather than for land or resource reasons. Therefore wars were not out of desperation or for a strong intent as a war for resources would carry more weight than say an acquisition of a monument. It is an interesting perception of warfare since the later empires would utilize warfare for resources and land. The Mesopotamians didn't need to expand their territories, so warfare was more of an act of stealing than a display of power. What was the point of warfare and why was it such a big deal to look for signs and use deportation as a tactical means?
If Bahrani says that warfare was for the sole purpose of gaining monuments and temples, and yet they performed rituals of finding signs and deporting the enemies, then it shows the importance the Mesopotamians placed on warfare and the need to assimilate their culture. Hence the value placed on taking enemy monuments brings the question of how important it is to do such things. It implies that abducting other kingdom's monuments and sort was more important than to increase land size or take over resources, which would make more sense considering that kings would want to expand their territories to obtain more resources. However, the impact of religion and divinity overrules any earthly gains, which would explain the shift from resources to culture.
The impact that deities had on the Mesopotamian altered the modern view of conquest in seeking resources. But rather it has become so that the attaining of monuments was more dominant. They went all out in warfare from the prewar rituals and then the scattering of populations so that they can be known, not for their desires for resources and land, but for their monuments and culture. Bahrani claims that the Mesopotamian sought after monuments shows the kind of emphasis they placed in warfare for cultural assimilation.