Mesopotamian Empires By 2400 BC Sumers citystates were

Mesopotamian Empires By 2400 BC, Sumer’s city-states were weakened by conflict Rulers of kingdoms began to built empires The kingdom of Akkad developed in northern Mesopotamia. Sargon ruled the people of Akkad, known as Akkadians United Sumer and Akkad and eventually controlled all of Mesopotamia • Lasted 200 years before they were conquered • • •

Hammurabi • A group of people called the Amorites lived in the region west of Mesopotamia • They conquered Mesopotamia and built their own cities. • Babylon was the grandest of these cities • It was located on the eastern bank of Euphrates River • The Babylonian king, Hammurabi conquered many surrounding areas creating an empire

Hammurabi’s Code • Hammurabi was thought to be a just ruler. • He developed the Code of Hammurabi which was stricter than the old Sumerian laws. • The code demanded what became known as “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” • The code also protected the less powerful

The Assyrian Empire • The Assyrian Empire arose about a 1000 years after empire of Hammurabi. • Assyria was a large empire that included present-day countries Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. • Had a large and powerful military to defend their hills and fertile land • The Assyrians robbed people, set crops on fire and destroyed towns and dams.

Assyrians • The Assyrians mastered iron production from the Hittites • Assyria extended from the Persian Gulf in the east to the Nile River in the east • The capital was located at Nineveh • The empire was divided into provinces • The king chose officials to govern, collect taxes, and carry out the laws in each province.

Life in Assyria • Learned from people of Mesopotamia • The Assyrians had law codes, but their punishments were harsher • Writing was based on Babylonia writing • Assyrians built large temples and palaces filled with wall carvings and statues • First library was built by Assyrian king Ashurbanipal (Ninevah)

Chaldean Empire Ruled for 300 years from the Persian Gulf to Egypt Harsh rulers that people always rebelled They moved into Mesopotamia about 1000 BC Never did like the leadership of the Assyrians When the Assyrians were fighting each other, king Nabopolassar decided reclaim his kingdom • In 627 BC, Nabopolassar joined with the Medes people were able defeat the Assyrian army. They burned the capital of Nineveh to the ground. • • •

The Chaldean Empire • Nabopolassar and his son, Nebuchadnezzer created a new empire. • Most of the Chaldeans were descendents of the Babyloinians who made up Hammurabi’s empire about 1200 earlier. • King Nebuchadnezzer rebuilt the city of Babylon. • Great palaces and temples were located in the center of Babylon. • Magnificent ziggurat with a giant stairway of greenery known as the Hanging Gardens. • A complex irrigation system

Chaldeans • It is believed that he built the Hanging Gardens for his wife • Streets were paved with limestone and marble • Gold statue of the god Marduk (thousands of people crowded the streets to see during the spring) • Built many new canals • Very high taxes and tributes • Trade was important (caravans) • The people of Babylon also made many scientific advancements

Chaldeans • Chaldean astronomers studied heavenly bodies, mapped the stars, planets, and the phases of the moon • Invented one of the first sundials • First to have a seven-day week • After Nebuchadnezzar died, a series of weak kings ruled and the Chadean empire failed. • The Persians took over.