Transcript The First Empires - Doral Academy Preparatory

The First Empires
 Empire: state containing several countries or territories
 Independent city-states of Sumer fought each other for
power in the fertile region
 City-states had allies
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Allies are independent city-states that work together to attain a
military or political goal
 City-states grew weaker because they spent too much time
fighting each other
 This situation led to Sumerian cities being conquered by
external forces
The Akkadian Empire
 Akkadians lived to the northwest of Sumer
 Spoke different language and had different customs
 2300 B.C.E: King Sargon conquers Kish (Sumerian City)
 Changed language
 Akkadian Army conquered other city-states
 Placed loyal Akkadians in government and religious positions
 United Mesopotamia by placing cities under his rule
 Sargon increased trade
 Sargon appointed local rulers to control land
 Sargon controlled Akkadian Empire for more than 50 years
The Fall of the Akkadian Empire
 Sargon dies in 2279 B.C.E
 Rebellions and invasions led the empire to collapse
Fighting for Mesopotamia
 Empires were created and destroyed in the
Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia)
 City-states fought for control over the rich
territory
 After years of struggle, a man named
Hammurabi united the region
 His empire was called the Babylonian Empire
The Babylonian Empire
 Babylon was a small city-state on the Euphrates river
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(Present day Iraq)
In Babylon, King Hammurabi created the center of the
Mesopotamian Empire
1792 B.C.E: Hammurabi becomes king of Babylon
Built up his army and attacked other city-states
He created the Old Babylonian Empire
He sent his own tax collectors, judges, and governors to
rule distant cities
Encouraged growth and trade
Hammurabi’s Code
 Set of laws that governed life in Babylonian
Empire
 Includes nearly 300 laws
 Set up specific punishments for robbery and
murder
 Also dealt with contracts, marriage, and
divorce
Hammurabi’s Code
 Harsh punishments that encouraged social
order
 More detailed than Ur-Nammu law code
 Attempted to write down all laws that
governed society
 Established rule of law: everyone must
obey the law
Daily Life in Babylonia
 Most people were farmers
 Food was grown and distributed
 Built irrigation canals
 Wool was used for clothing
 Traders bought and sold goods
 New tools, weapons, pottery, and perfumes and medicine
 Known for bronze and stone sculptures
 Used gold and precious stones to make jewelry