1. Government in Mesopotamia
LISTEN UP!
Government in Mesopotamia

2. Where are the kings?
When city-states were just beginning to grow in population, power and size, KINGS did NOT exist!

3. Power to the PEOPLE
Initially, Mesopotamia’s government was considered a DEMOCRACY because decisions were made by a COUNCIL of elders, as well as an UPPER and LOWER house.

4. Man of the House
When under attack and forced into battle, the Upper House would select a MAN they believed to be worthy of running the city-state in a time of crisis.

5. Large and in Charge
Crises were not solved overnight. In fact, sometimes these men were “in charge” for long periods of time. During this time, these men gained POWER and took decision-making authority away from the Upper House.

6. My turn to be KING!
Eventually, these temporary leaders became KINGS and took control over the CITY-STATES.

7. First Written Set of Laws
Sumer had the first set of written LAWS.
A COURT system was also established.

8. I rule it, you write it.
An ENSI was a judge who was a local ruler of a city-state, but NOT the king.
Each court had a separate SCRIBE to record all arguments and decisions.

9. Hammurab-who???
Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who recorded the CODE of Hammurabi.
It consisted of 282 laws written in stone for all to see.

10. An eye for an eye...
Some of Hammurabi’s laws were based on the principal, “An EYE for an EYE,” meaning that whoever commits a crime should be punished in some way relating to their crime.

11. Criminal and Civil Law
Hammurabi’s code included CRIMINAL and CIVIL law.
Criminal law is made up of rules that define CONDUCT.
Civil law settles trouble between PEOPLE.

12. Gods almighty!
One exception: Hammurabi believed that the GODS had power over people and events. Some of his punishments were left in the hands of the gods.

13. I don’t think that’s fair...
Equal punishment existed ONLY when the two sides were of equal RANK.
The punishment would be LESS if the injured or affected person was a WOMAN or a SLAVE.