Chapter 1 Section 3 Akkadians & Amorites

Akkadians Originally known as Semites - Nomads located in Mesopotamia - Forced into settled communities - Many began living in Sumerian City-State of Akkad - Semites became known as Akkadians - Eventually Akkadians became strong and overtook Sumer

Amorites Another group of invaders Took control of Mesopotamia about 1900 b.c.e. Took over Babylon Babylon became the capital of the entire region

Amorites

Code of Hammurabi Hammurabi - Famous Amorite king of Babylon - United city-states and governed well - Established “codification: organizing and writing down laws of society” - Called Code of Hammurabi

Code of Hammurabi We learn a lot about ancient Mesopotamia through the code - Women held a high position - Laws regulating industry and trade - Land was privately owned - Marriage was a legal contract - Husband & wife had definite rights - People who falsely accused could receive punishment that would be given to the accused

Code of Hammurabi Cont. If city did not catch criminal the city would pay the victim Doctor could be punished for malpractice - Ex: Surgeons hands could be cut off if the patient died Crimes against nobles were worse than crimes against peasants

Code Cont. Punishment by death or mutilation was common for smaller crimes Another example of the harshness of the code is if a house collapsed and killed a man’s son, the son of the carpenter would be killed http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/CODE.HTM

Fall of Amorite Culture 1600 b.c.e other groups invaded Hittites (withdrew shortly (could not maintain the society)) Kassites (ruled for about 400 yrs) Hittites and Kassites used horse drawn chariots

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