Value of a Human

The effects of the divinity influencing the role of warfare shows the dependency deities had on the kings and their actions. If one was looking to the gods for the inspiration for war, then it infers that the people thought the gods were very influential and that the people were fearful of war. The amount of it must have cost when an entire nation went to war and the number of lives that would be risked to undergo such such a procedure shows the dynamics of what it means to go to war. So it makes sense that the people would look to deities for advice since going to war knowing that you'll lose is a pretty good advice on not to go to war. Hence the total dependency the people had on living their lives describes the fear of war. Perhaps even though there was a high value on warfare, it perhaps shows the dynamic of the value they placed on human life. Going to war required a lot of resources, especially since manpower was an expensive resource. If they had placed this much concern on war and people, it is understandable that they would consult the gods to provide advice that would better off their empire.
Warfare will always have a victor and a loser. One will gain, the other lose. It is as simple as that when it came down to warfare and its effect on the empires. Bahrani explains that the destructive and productive aspects of warfare shows the risk that kings were not willing to place on their empires, especially if they are to lose. Perhaps, the fear of losing and failure provoked the scarce desires of war. It also led to the kings consulting the gods for advice. So there was much at stake when it came down to warfare amongst the kings of these empires. Bahrani provides a clear understanding of what it meant to the people to live through war and the stress war had on kings as they were to make their decisions on war. That translate to even today as leaders weigh the price of war and the cost of going to war, especially if they are to lose. Although the Mesopotamians were more fearful of it, due to their constant consultation of the deities, the idea of weighing warfare especially on the soldiers and what it meant for them to go risk their lives, shows the dynamic of war on people, both the soldiers and the leaders who send them out.