1. Overview of Ancient Mesopotamia and Hammurabi’s Code Back to Portfolio

2. Focus Questions What are the accomplishments of Sumerian society What are the accomplishments of Sumerian society How did the Code of Law influence society How did the Code of Law influence society On what principle was the code based? On what principle was the code based?

3. Mesopotamia: the cradle of civilization Civilization began in and around an area know as Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Civilization began in and around an area know as Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Migration around 4000 B.C. Migration around 4000 B.C. Sumer was the 1 st known civilization Sumer was the 1 st known civilization Sumerian civilization consisted of a series of city-states. Sumerian civilization consisted of a series of city-states.

4. Mesopotamia: Accomplishments 1 st Civilization Controlled 2 rivers Irrigation for crops Built city states Creation of class system Religion/Family Values Schools/writing leadership

5. Hammurabi’s Code About 1800 BC, Hammurabi conquered Akkad and Sumer (2 major cities) and established the Babylonian Empire About 1800 BC, Hammurabi conquered Akkad and Sumer (2 major cities) and established the Babylonian Empire Unified the Empire by creating a single code of law and raising the god of Babylon over all others Unified the Empire by creating a single code of law and raising the god of Babylon over all others

6. About the Code King Hammurabi is remembered for his 'Code' or collection of laws. It was modeled on existing laws, but this was the largest law code assembled. King Hammurabi is remembered for his 'Code' or collection of laws. It was modeled on existing laws, but this was the largest law code assembled. The Code has 282 provisions which dealt with many aspects of life, including family rights, trade, slavery, tariffs, taxes, prices and wages. The Code tells us much about Babylonian society. The Code has 282 provisions which dealt with many aspects of life, including family rights, trade, slavery, tariffs, taxes, prices and wages. The Code tells us much about Babylonian society. The Code of Hammurabi is inscribed on a stone slab over 2 6ft high. At the top, the King is shown receiving laws from the Babylonian sun god, Shamash. The Code of Hammurabi is inscribed on a stone slab over 2 6ft high. At the top, the King is shown receiving laws from the Babylonian sun god, Shamash.

7. About the Code The laws are not the same for rich and poor, but the weak were given some protection against the tyranny of the strong. The laws are not the same for rich and poor, but the weak were given some protection against the tyranny of the strong. The Code was not the only law code in Mesopotamia, but the only one written in stone. The Code was not the only law code in Mesopotamia, but the only one written in stone. The code was based on retribution, not justice and varied unfairly between social classes. The code was based on retribution, not justice and varied unfairly between social classes.

8. As a Society: Contributions Writing/ keeping logs for business Writing/ keeping logs for business The wheel The wheel The plow The plow Sailboat Sailboat Number system based on 60 Number system based on 60