Exploring Four Empires of Mesopotamia Akkadian Empire-fractured-Babylonian Empire-fractured-Assyrian Empire-Neo-Babylonian- Persian invasion

The Akkadian Empire For 1,500 years, Sumer was a land of independent city-states. Lack of unity, left them open for attacks. Around 2300 B.C.E. the Akkadians under Sargon the Great created the world’s first empire by conquering Mesopotamia. Sargon created the empire by creating an army superior to any that came before. Sargon : destroyed the walls of cities. made sure governors were loyal. demanded that his sons rule after his death. ruled for 50 years.

Akkadian Empire Map

Life Under Akkadian Rule Agade (Akkad), the empire’s capital, was built from tribute. The Akkadians used the Sumerian irrigation techniques and cuneiform. Religion of the Akkadians was similar to that of the Sumerians and kings ruled in the name of the gods. Akkadian language became dominate. Akkadians created beautiful three-dimensional sculptures on stones called steles. The Victory Stele: King Naram-Sin is pictured as taller than other men. He wears a horned crown to make him look like a god.

Hammurabi and the Babylonian Empire Akkadian Empire collapsed and for hundreds of year Mesopotamia was not unified. In the 1700s B.C.E. Hammurabi creates the Babylonian Empire with Babylon as capital. Hammurabi created a code of law to unify his empire and to preserve order. He claimed that the laws were the gods’ will. Though the laws didn’t treat everyone equally, it was the first code of law to apply to everyone. Code of Hammurabi stele

Code of Hammurabi The code then regulates in clear and definite strokes the organization of society. The judge who blunders in a law case is to be expelled from his judgeship forever, and heavily fined. The witness who testifies falsely is to be slain. Indeed, all the heavier crimes are made punishable with death. Even if a man builds a house badly, and it falls and kills the owner, the builder is to be slain. If the owner's son was killed, then the builder's son is slain. We can see where the Hebrews learned their law of "an eye for an eye." These grim retaliatory punishments take no note of excuses or explanations, but only of the fact--with one striking exception. An accused person was allowed to cast himself into "the river," the Euphrates. Apparently the art of swimming was unknown; for if the current bore him to the shore alive he was declared innocent, if he drowned he was guilty. So we learn that faith in the justice of the ruling gods was already firmly, though somewhat childishly, established in the minds of men.

Life in the Babylonian Empire Hammurabi: united the Mesopotamians. promoted agriculture, trade and the arts. maintained irrigation systems. Babylon was wealthy from trade. Classes were treated differently, but slaves and women had some rights. However, women could not choose a spouse, and slaves still had masters.

The Assyrian Empire The Hammurabi’s empire eventually collapsed because it was difficult to control such a large area. Once again, Mesopotamia was not united. The Assyrians began their conquests in 900 B.C.E.. The Assyrians were known for their cruelty. They would use fear as a weapon. They would also force entire populations to relocate. The Assyrians became masters of siege warfare.

The bas-relief shows the punishment meted out only to the elders of Lachish who had foolishly rebelled against the Assyrian king. The reliefs served primarily as propaganda warning the elected city elders of other cities that their cities would be destroyed, their people resettled and they would face similar punishment should they seek to upset order in the efficient Assyrian empire.

Life Under the Assyrians Nineveh was the capital. The powerful Assyrian kings lived in beautiful palaces fronted by huge sculptures that were often built on high mounds. As throughout most of civilized history, most of the people farmed. The Assyrians irrigated the land and built a series of aqueducts (one brought water 30 miles to Nineveh). The Assyrian Empire lasted 300 years, but its territory was too large to control and was eventually crushed in 612 B.C.E. Assyrian statuary housed in London, England

What appears to be an Assyrian palace in Southern California is a shopping mall that was originally a tire factory. It can be seen off the 5 Freeway.

The Neo-Babylonian Empire After the fall of the Assyrians, the Babylonians created a new (neo) empire. Neo-Babylonia’s must famous king was Nebuchadrezzar II (ruled 605-562 B.C.E.). When the Hebrews in Canaan rebelled against Nebuchadrezzer, he forced them to relocate to Babylonia. To protect his city from attack, Nebuchadrezzer made Babylon into an extremely well-fortified city.

Life in the Neo-Babylonian Empire Nebuchadrezzer rebuilt Babylon’s ziggurat: (“House of the Platform Between Heaven and Earth”) and decorated his palace with gardens (the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World). The Babylonians were skilled in mathematics and astronomy (they created the sundial, 60-minute hour, 7-day week). Neo-Babylonia was conquered by the Persians in 539 B.C.E.