From Civilization to Empire Mesopotamia

Akkadian Empire Sumerian city-states wanted wealth from controlling land and and water Often at war with each other Leader Sargon from enemy army conquered Sumer (2350 BC) First empire – vast lands and people under his control Capital city – Akkad

Sargon of Akkad aka: Sargon the Great

Stop and think What do you need to maintain an empire?

Akkadian Empire First standing army (permanent army of paid soldiers) Faithful nobles appointed governors of conquered cities Conquered cites paid tribute (required payment from one ruler to more powerful ruler) Created a wealthy empire 2300 BC went from Iran to Med. Sea

Akkadian Empire

Babylonian Empire 1790 BC Hammurabi king of Babylon conquered and united most of Mesopotamia Changed tax system so all paid fair share Organized laws of his land Collected each city-state’s laws – sorted and came up with Code of Hammurabi 282 laws Carved in stone and placed in public place

Babylonian Empire

Hammurabi

Stele – Code of Hammurabi in Louvre Museum in Paris

Code of Hammurabi

Assyrian Empire After fall of Babylonian Empire, others moved in Hittites 1600s BC – war chariots and iron weapons Kassites conquered Babylon and adopted laws, religion, literature so helped preserve it Assyrians Empire gained control – wanted to control trade routes

Hittites - War Chariot

Iron Weapons

Assyrian Empire Powerful weapons helped them conquer From Hittites – iron weapons and war chariots 1 st battering ram (heavy wooden beam to break walls) 1 st lance (spear on long handle) 700 BC largest empire in world (all of Mesopotamia, present-day Turkey, Egypt, and Persian Gulf)

Assyrian War Chariot

Assyrian Empire Nineveh – oldest and most populous city 1st system of paved roads 1st postal system 1 st locks with keys 1 st magnifying glass 1 st libraries 609 BC fell to New Babylonian Empire

Assyrian Empire

Assyrian Guardian Monument

New Babylonian Empire Nebuchadnezzar – ruler Believed to have built Hanging Gardens of Babylon (terraced gardens – 1 of 7 wonders of ancient world)

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Reported site of Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Summary Competition for resources (land, water, trade routes, etc.) led to early empires. Strong rulers and armies conquered city-states and united under 1 ruler Often empires adopted ideas from others so information and ideas continued