- 2300 BCE Akkadians came from the north and conquered Sumer - Led be King Sargon - skilled general, assembled a large army used the phalanx formation (wall of shields with spears) - win territory amass an empire - smart political strategies to keep control - destroyed walls - made governors of city-states his loyal men - demanded that his son rule after he died (setting up hereditary kings) - died at a very old age - legendary king who created the first empire Life Under Akkadian Rule - Sargon ruled for 56 years - city of Agade made the empire capital - built up the city with tributes - it became a cultural center, rich and beautiful - Sumerian culture continued like irrigation, cuneiform, and religion - Akkadians had cultural achievements of their own like a language that replaced Sumerian language, art \ sculptures carved steles (3-D relief stone carvings) - Victory Stele (his grandson Naram-Sins achievements) - later rulers found it difficult to rule such a large territory - empire began to weaken - lasted 200 years - invaded by people to the North
The Babylonian Empire - Akkadian Empire fell and Sumer a collection of city- states again - Hammurabi, king of the city-state Babylon conquered Mesopotamia (calling it Babylonia) and made Babylon the capital - Wrote Hammurabis Code of Laws (1792-1750 BCE) - The god Marduk gave him the laws and they were carved upon a stele and placed in a temple - it was detailed and covered many areas (work, marriage, trade, etc.) - spelled out specific punishments - Often harsh (eye for an eye) - did not treat everyone equally - first laws written down that applied to everyone Life Under Babylonian Rule - Babylonia thrived under Hammurabi - Made the Babylonian god Marduk supreme god over others - Built roads and a postal service - Agriculture and trade flourished - Kept irrigation working properly - important city of trade (along the Persian Gulf) - Economy and Arts flourished - Society was fair for its timeclasses treated differently but even slaves had some rights (like work elsewhere, own land, collect earned wages to possibly purchase freedom) - women had more rights than in other ancient societies (like own property, keep money of their own)
he Assyrian Empire - War like people to the north - ose to power around BCE - trained army began to expand their territory - feared for their military might and cruelty - nown for their new weapons and war str ategies like perfecting the use of military horses iron weapons and siege warfare - developed new ways to attack cities ex. Battering ram and siege towers - uthless would make entire populations leave a conquered area - they spread tales of their cruelty to create fear a military strategy Life nder Assyrian ule - ruled by powerful kings - built beautiful palaces to honor them sculptures of winged humans and lions marked the entrances - capital city was Nineveh - kings ruled and ordinary people farmed the land - irrigation and built aqueducts to bring in drinking water to Nineveh - craftspeople did 2-D car vings called bas-r eliefs adorned palace walls of kings life or history - used ivory to decorate furniture in palaces - empire lasted about years - stretched form Egypt to the Persian Gulf - too big to control and they could not fight off invaders - 62 BCE Nineveh was plundered by Babylonians Scythians and Medes.
he Neo-Babylonian Empire - Babylonians regained control of Mesopotamia - most famous king Nebuchadr ezzar II a ruthless military leader who reigned from 6 62 BCE - he expanded his empire whenever he could - dr ove the Egyptians out of Syr ia - conquer ed par t of Canaan modern day Israel home of the Hebrews - Hebrews rebelled and he took them captive to Babylonia many never returning to their homeland - kept capital city of Babylon safe by building an inner and outer wall ar ound the city - walls so thick that 2 chariots could ride across - tower s erected for archers - moat dug and filled with water with bridges Life nder Neo-Babylonian ule - Nebuchadrezzar worked hard to give Babylon splendor - rebuilt the ziggurat - decorated the palace with fabulous gardens Hanging Gar dens of Babylon a wonder of the world with a watering system - Skilled mathematicians - skilled in Astr onomy created the first sundial 6 minute hour and the day week - Empire lasted only years - BCE a new conqueror swept into Babylon - Per sian king Cyr us (modern day Iran) - ruled for about 2 years later conquered by Alexander the Great