Babylonia and Assyria Two Empires of Mesopotamia

Key Terms Empire – many territories and peoples controlled by one government Babylon – the capital of Babylonia; a city of great wealth and luxury Caravan – a group of travelers journeying together Bazaar – a market selling different kinds of goods

Fertile Crescent:: A region of the Middle East arching across the northern part of the Syrian Desert and extending from the Nile Valley to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Sumerian Civilization This was the first known civilization in the Fertile Crescent was uncovered in the 1800s in Mesopotamia which means “between the rivers” of Euphrates and Tigris. Control of these rivers was key to developments in Mesopotamia. To survive and protect their farmland, villages along the riverbanks had to work together.

The Two Empires of Mesopotamia After the Sumerians were defeated, Mesopotamia had two main empires: Babylonia and Assyria. The Babylonian empire lasted from c1800 BC to c1600 BC. The Assyrian empire lasted from c665 BC to c612 BC.

Babylon and King Hammurabi The Babylonian people created a monarchy supported by a system of taxation to pay for running the government. Tax collectors traveled throughout the empire collecting tax money from citizens. Monarchy: type of government with one ruling family that has absolute power.

Babylon Empire – 1787 B.C.

Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi was the king who united most of Mesopotamia and conquered the Sumerians. King Hammurabi developed a written set of laws for his people to follow in 1790 BC. This is the first known set of laws in human history! A total of 282 laws form the Hammurabi’s Code. Law number 196 states: If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. A statue of Hammurabi

The Evolution of Writing Sumerians invented the earliest known form of writing called cuneiform using a reed pen to make wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets. Cuneiform is from the Latin word for wedge. Sumerian scribes went through years of difficult schooling to acquire their skills.

The Assyrians Rise to Power Assyria was a small kingdom of walled cities that was located north of Babylon. They were skilled warriors and eventually took over Babylon. At around 1365 B.C., the Assyrians decided that the best defense they had was to attack other countries first, before they could attack them. By 650 B.C., Assyria had conquered a large empire. King Sargon II was a successful and ruthless Assyrian ruler.

Assyrian Empire – 650 B.C.

The Assyrian War Machine The Assyrians were geniuses at waging war. They invented the battering ram, which they used to pound down city walls. They used catapults to throw rocks at enemies, and they protected their archers with helmets and armor. Chariots were used to slash their way through enemy troops.

Assyria Overthrown!!

The New Babylonian Empire The greatest king of Babylon was Nebuchadnezzar II. He rebuilt Babylon and put massive walls around the city to protect it. He also built a great palace with hanging gardens.

The Fall of the Second Babylonian Empire The second Babylonian empire came under attack and was defeated by the Persians, who were led by Cyrus the Great, in 539 BC. The Persians built the largest empire the Fertile Crescent has ever known.

Babylon Empire – 1787 B.C.

Assyrian Empire – 650 B.C.

Persian Empire – 490 B.C.