6.  Created the first empire, united several previously independent city-states under one power.

7.  Weakened because the conquered city-states continued to struggle against the rule of a central government and because enemies could easily invade the city-states on a flat, open plain. His empire eventually fell to the Guitans, fierce warriors from the Zagros mountains.

8.  Conquered what is now Lebanon, overthrew the King of Mari and made his son king, and created the empire of Assyria.

9.  Held his lands together by trade as well as by force; exchanged Mesopotamian products for valuable foreign goods such as copper, tin and silver.

10.  Was defeated by Hammurabi and his Babylonian army.

11.  Conquered the lands east to the Zagros Mountains and south to Uruk then marched north and defeated all of Mesopotamia, including Assyria.

12.  Ruled all of Mesopotamia; maintained a strong central government and sent governors, judges, tax collectors and military commanders to all his lands; created the Code of Hammurabi, 282 carefully chosen laws of Babylonia covering all matters that were important to the people, and had it carved on a slab of stone and made public.

14.  Began to fall apart after Hammurabi’s death.