Text 1: Empires Emerge in Mesopotamia

Topic 2: The Ancient Middle East and Egypt (3200 B.C.E. - 500 B.C.E.)Lesson 2: Empires in Mesopotamia

Empires Emerge in Mesopotamia

Invasion and conquest were prominent in the Middle East

Nomadic peoples or ambitious warriors attacked the rich cities of the Fertile Crescent

Many looted and burned, but some stayed to rule

Empires Emerge in Mesopotamia

Powerful leaders created large, well-organized empires

Brought peace and prosperity for a time

Empires Emerge in Mesopotamia

Over several thousand years, these empires made advances in government, technology, and learning

Influenced later civilizations like Greece, Rome, and India

The First Empire

2300 B.C., Sargon, the ruler of Akkad, invaded and conquered the city-states of Sumer

He built the first empire known to history, and the first multicultural empire in Mesopotamia

Empire

A group of regions or countries that are controlled by one ruler or government

Sargon’s achievement did not last long as other invaders attacked Akkad after his death

CAUSE: Severe drought had led people from the dry north to migrate into the irrigated lands of southern Mesopotamia

The newcomers disrupted the social and political structure of the empire, causing it to collapse

The Babylonian Empire

1790 B.C.E. Hammurabi, king of Babylon, brought much of Mesopotamia under the control of his empire

He tried to unite the large Babylonian empire, which included a variety of peoples with their own traditions

His most lasting achievement was in the area of law

To ensure unity, he published a remarkable set of laws, known as the Code of Hammurabi

Hammurabi was not the author of the code

Most of the laws had been around since Sumerian times

Hammurabi wanted people to know the legal principles his government would follow

Artisans carve the laws on a stone pillar that were posted in the city square for all to see

The first important attempt by a ruler to codify, arrange and set down in writing, all the laws that would govern a state

The first major collection of laws in history and was set out for all to see, even though few people could read

The code listed both criminal laws and civil laws

Most importantly Hammurabi’s Code embodied the idea that a ruler had a responsibility to ensure justice and order

Were designed to ensure peace and project his power across his vast empire

Atop the pillar Hammurabi is shown receiving the laws directly from the Babylonian god Marduk

Civil laws were designed to protect the powerless, including women and slaves

Criminal laws dealt with offenses against others, such as robbery, assault, or murder

The penalties varied according to the status of the victim or the offender

By today’s standards, the punishments seem cruel, following the principle of “an eye for an eye and a life for a life”

Other goals were meant to bring order and prosperity to the empire

Improved irrigation systems

Organized a well-trained army

Ordered the repair of many temples

To encourage religious unity

Promoted Marduk, the patron god of Babylon, over older Sumerian gods

Marduk became the chief god of Babylonian worship