The%20First%20Empires

1
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
• 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

2
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

3
The Fall of the Akkadian Empire

• Sargon dies in 2279 B.C.E
• Rebellions and invasions led the empire to
  collapse

4
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

5
The Babylonian Empire

• Babylon was a small city-state on the Euphrates
  river (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

6
Hammurabis 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

7
Hammurabis 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

8
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