1. Conquest and Empire Building
Sargon the Great Hammurabi
Conquest and Empire Building

2. Sargon the Great Came from central Mesopotamia
Had taken control of the Kish army by killing the king in battle
Defeated the Sumerian city-states
Gained control of the lands from Iran to Turkey (the worlds first empire)
The lands ruled by Sargon became known as Akkadian Empire
Ruled by using the force of his army and by organizing his government
One of the first rulers to keep a standing army
Chose people to govern each city-state (people he trusted)
Ruled for 56 years

3. The Babylonian Empire Took control of Mesopotamia around 1900 B.C.
The kings of Babylon created a system of taxation
Why do we have taxes?
Created a centralized government (a single authority)
Hammurabi created a code of laws in about 1790 B.C.
Why are laws important?
The Code of Hammurabi was based on the basis, “the strong shall not oppress the weak”
Made up of 282 laws
The Code was carved into stone for all to see
Why would they place them for all to see?

4. The Code of Hammurabi
On Stealing 14. If a man has stolen a child, he shall be put to death 22. If a man has committed robbery and has been caught, he shall be put to death. What do you think? Are these rules fair?

5. The Code of Hammurabi
On Farming 42. If a man has rented a field to cultivate and has not grown any grain on the field, he shall be held responsible for not doing the work and shall pay rent. 48. If a man owes a debt and a storm has flooded his field or destroyed his crop, that year he shall pay nothing. Are these laws fair? Why?

6. The Code of Hammurabi
On Harming Others 200. If a nobleman has knocked out the tooth of a man who is his equal, his tooth shall be knocked out If a nobleman has knocked out the tooth of a poor man, he shall pay one-third of a mina of silver Are these laws fair? Who benefits more from these laws, the wealthy or poor? Should social class be important when it comes to following laws?

7. Civilization in Sumer
Advances in Farming
Government in Sumer
Sumerians had to protect their crops from flooding and drought
Sumerians built dikes to control river flooding
Sumerians created reservoirs to store water during the dry season
Were among the first people to use wheeled carts
Each city-state in Sumer was ruled by a king (monarchy)
The en, or king, had absolute authority over the city-state (lead the military, arranging trade, settling arguments, and directing public events
Monarchs were believed to have been chosen by the gods

8. Writing and Other Innovations
The Sumerians created the world’s first written language
The earliest writings were government lists and records
Cuneiform was the writing form of the Sumerians-it was written on clay tablets
The Sumerians had a system of measure or counting (iku, quart, and a 12 month calendar)
The Sumerians were the first to build sailboats
They were the first to create bronze by mixing copper and tin
They also created the potters wheel to help them form bowls, vases, and jars from clay

9. Division in Society Sumerian society was divided into social classes
The highest social class was made up of kings, important government officials, priests, and warriors
The middle class included less important government officials, merchants, craft workers, farming supervisors, and doctors
The lower class included slaves (prisoners of war or those working to pay off a dept) and farm workers
Men had more authority than women in Sumer
Women ruled the family and some were religious leaders
Women could own property and run businesses

10. The Hittites and Kassites
Came from the north and attacked Babylon
They robbed the city of its riches and left
Used war chariots to defeat the Babylonians
Took over Babylon after the Hittites left
Had an advanced culture but borrowed many ideas from the Babylonians (architecture, laws, religion, and literature)
Ruled Babylon for over 500 years

11. The Assyrians Empire Skilled in warfare (learned from the Hittites)
Used war chariots, lances, and battering rams
The Assyrian army was specialized (chariot drivers, archers, and cavalry)
They were the largest standing army in Mesopotamia (the land between two rivers)
Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, captured more than 40 cities and took over 200,ooo prisoners of war
He destroyed the city of Babylon

12. Assyrian Achievements
Ruled the largest empire in the world at that time
They improved transportation and communication (built the worlds first system of paved roads and a postal system)
Were the first to create locks that opened with a key, magnifying glasses, libraries, and possibly the first to use plumbing
Also the Assyrians organized their government into territories

13. Glorious Nineveh Located on the east bank of the Tigris river
Was the capital of the Assyrian empire
Was a beautiful city with wide streets, large squares, parks, and gardens
Religious temples were built for their many gods
The city was enclosed by a wall that stretched 7.5 miles around the city

14. The New Babylon
After the fall of the Assyrians, Babylon again took over Mesopotamia
Nebuchadnezzar promoted great building projects (palaces, temples, and a ziggurat monument known as the Tower of Babel)
He is said to have also created the Hanging gardens of Babylon