Section 2: Invaders, Traders, & Empire Builders Sargon Ruler of Akkad, conquered neighboring city-states of Sumer. He expanded his territory and created the world’s first empire. Once Sargon died, his empire crumbled. ~2300 bc Empire: A group of states or territories ruled by one leader

Hammurabi King of Babylon. Improved irrigation, organized a well trained army, and encourage religious unity across the empire bc

Ruins of Babylon from Saddam Hussein's Summer PalaceSaddam Hussein

Hammurabi’s Code Most laws around since Sumerian time but he wanted entire empire to know Artisans carved 282 laws on stone pillar First important attempt by a ruler to Codify

Hammurabi’s Code Civil Law: Private rights and matters. Such as, business contracts, property, taxes, marriage and divorce. Criminal Law: Deals with offenses against others. Such as, robbery, assault, and murder. Eye for an Eye Man had legal authority over wife, also legal duty to support her Limits personal vengeance and encourages social order Trial by ordeal

~1400bc to 1200bc New Empires and Ideas Hittites – They were able to extract iron from ore, this knowledge changed the way weapons were created. Iron tools & weapons were harder & sharper than bronze & copper – Modified the chariot to allow for three man to ride. One driver, and an additional soldier to fight the enemy.

New Empires and Ideas Assyrians – Among most feared warriors in all of history – They captured Babylon and spoke of their conquests everywhere. – Encouraged a well ordered society – Used wealth from trade and war to build great palaces and well planed cities “The city and its houses, from top to bottom, I destroyed & burned with fire.”

Nineveh King Assurbanipal Gilgamesh Assyrians

1 st king Babylon Shortly after Assurbanipal’s death, neighboring forces defeated Assyrians Nabopolassar reestablished Babylon, 625 bc Nebuchadnezzar Aggressive and ruthless Quickly revived Babylon and surrounded the city with a moat and brick wall (85 feet thick) 612 bc 2nd king After nearly 1000 years of decline & destruction

Ishtar Gate Lions representing goddess Ishtar Nine gateways dedicated to gods

Babylon –Hanging Gardens of Babylon –One of the seven wonders of the ancient world

Name a significant contribution made by the Hittites, Assyrians, and Babylonians.

Persians Nebuchadnezzar's thick walls failed to hold back new conquerors 539 bc, Babylon fell to Persian armies of Cyrus the Great  Went on to build largest empire yet Persian kings known for tolerance, acceptance of conquered people. Respected customs of diverse groups in their empire

Codified laws Hundreds of miles of Roads built to encourage unity Persians Darius I  Ruled from 522bc - 486bc  Real unification of Persian empire Set up bureaucracy: system of governance through departments & subdivisions administered by officials who follow set rules Became a model for later rulers Divided empire into provinces (called a satrapy) & headed by governor called a satrap Paid taxes based on resources & wealth Special officials visited to check up on them

Persians Darius I  Encouraged use of coins (Lydians of Asia Minor first introduced)  Brought merchants into early form of money economy  Still, most people continued barter economy Goods & services paid for with token of agreed value Exchange one set of goods & services for another

United Persia Zoroaster  Persian thinker  Rejected Persian gods Monotheistic  Taught of single wise god, Ahura Mazda who was constantly at battle with Ahriman the prince of lies & evil People would have to choose a side ~ 600 bc Eventually Ahura Mazda would triumph over evil

On final judgment day, all individuals would be judged for their actions “Then the assembly... will meet, that is, all men of this earth will stand. In that assembly, every person will se his own good deeds and evil deeds. The righteous will be as conspicuous amongst the wicked as a white sheep among the black... They will then [carry] the righteous to the abode of harmony [heaven], and cast the wicked back to the wicked existence [hell]... Then [the last savior] Soshyant by order of the Creator will give reward & recompense to all men in conformity with their deeds.”  Zoroastrian scripture Two other religions Emerged in the Middle East

Phoenicians Small states of ancient Middle East also made contributions to civilization

Phoenicians Due to the location in close proximity, to the sea, the Phoenicians were sailors and traders. The sea gave the Phoenicians sand in which they created glass. As well as a tiny sea snail that produced a wildly admired purple dye. The Phoenicians set up colonies, a territory settled and ruled by people from another land. These colonies allowed for better trade between countries and continents.

Phoenicians “Carriers of civilization” They spread Middle Eastern civilization around the Mediterranean Alphabet  One of most significant Phoenician contributions Cuneiform, symbols represented syllables or whole words Alphabet, symbol represents a single basic sound Greeks adapted Phoenician alphabet The words on this slide come from Greek alphabet

What were the accomplishments of the Sumerians? Hittites? Persians? Phoenicians? Babylonians? What is Hammurabi’s Code & what was it the first example of? Review