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Four Empires Four Empires
Of MesopotamiaOf Mesopotamia
What happened to Sumer?
What happened to Sumer?
• Sumerians lived in many city-states
• They were not unified• This left them vulnerable to
attack • Do you remember what
Sumerian city-states fought about?
• Sumerians lived in many city-states
• They were not unified• This left them vulnerable to
attack • Do you remember what
Sumerian city-states fought about?
AkkadiansAkkadians
• 2300 BCE the Akkadians conquered Sumer.
• They developed the first empire, with Sargon as king
• Sargon used military techniques to conquer the city-states
• 2300 BCE the Akkadians conquered Sumer.
• They developed the first empire, with Sargon as king
• Sargon used military techniques to conquer the city-states
AkkadiansAkkadians
• Sargon did several things to ensure his empire flourished:– Destroyed city walls to
discourage rebellion– Ensured city-state governors
were loyal to him– Established his son as the next
king – Utilized tributes
• Sargon did several things to ensure his empire flourished:– Destroyed city walls to
discourage rebellion– Ensured city-state governors
were loyal to him– Established his son as the next
king – Utilized tributes
Akkadian FactsAkkadian Facts
They spoke a Semitic language– A family of languages. Examples:
Assyrian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Arabic and Hebrew
Sargon ruled for 56 years• His sons ruled after him.• Naram-Sin was the most
successful.
They spoke a Semitic language– A family of languages. Examples:
Assyrian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Arabic and Hebrew
Sargon ruled for 56 years• His sons ruled after him.• Naram-Sin was the most
successful.
Akkadian FactsAkkadian Facts
• Naram-Sin was the first Mesopotamian king to claim divinity. He was called “King of the Four Quarters” (The world!)
• They adapted cuneiform to the Semitic language
• They had skilled craftspeople who made three-dimensional relief sculptures called steles
• Naram-Sin was the first Mesopotamian king to claim divinity. He was called “King of the Four Quarters” (The world!)
• They adapted cuneiform to the Semitic language
• They had skilled craftspeople who made three-dimensional relief sculptures called steles
Akkadian FactsAkkadian Facts
• Agade was the capital of the empire.
• The vast empire grew weak and was gone by 2190 BCE
• The Akkadian Empire lasted about 200 years.
• The Sumerian city-states briefly reemerged after the Akkadians fell.
• Agade was the capital of the empire.
• The vast empire grew weak and was gone by 2190 BCE
• The Akkadian Empire lasted about 200 years.
• The Sumerian city-states briefly reemerged after the Akkadians fell.
Babylonian EmpireBabylonian Empire
• Babylon was a small city-state in central Mesopotamia.
• Hammurabi was the ruler of Babylon.
• Hammurabi conquered Mesopotamia, bringing an end to the Sumerian political structure.
• Hammurabi named the new empire Babylonia, with Babylon as its capital.
• Babylon was a small city-state in central Mesopotamia.
• Hammurabi was the ruler of Babylon.
• Hammurabi conquered Mesopotamia, bringing an end to the Sumerian political structure.
• Hammurabi named the new empire Babylonia, with Babylon as its capital.
Babylonian FactsBabylonian Facts
• Babylonian empire began in 1792 BCE• They spoke Akkadian (a Semitic
language) • Sumerian language died• Hammurabi developed his code of
laws• Babylonians had an extensive trade
system: traded grain and cloth for wood, gold silver, gems and livestock
• Babylonian empire began in 1792 BCE• They spoke Akkadian (a Semitic
language) • Sumerian language died• Hammurabi developed his code of
laws• Babylonians had an extensive trade
system: traded grain and cloth for wood, gold silver, gems and livestock
Babylonian FactsBabylonian Facts
• Hammurabi ensured the irrigation systems worked, so food was plentiful
• Women had more rights than in other ancient cultures
• They utilized silver for payment, but not in coin form
• Hammurabi ensured the irrigation systems worked, so food was plentiful
• Women had more rights than in other ancient cultures
• They utilized silver for payment, but not in coin form
Babylonian FactsBabylonian Facts• Babylonians made achievements in math• They developed a system of math based
on the number 60 (has many divisors)• Thus, we have 60 second minutes, 60
minute hours, 360 degree circles (60 x 6)• Had multiplication tables, square roots
and reciprocals• Had knowledge of pi and geometry• Had a mile measurement (appx. 7 miles
= 1 Babylonian mile)
• Babylonians made achievements in math• They developed a system of math based
on the number 60 (has many divisors)• Thus, we have 60 second minutes, 60
minute hours, 360 degree circles (60 x 6)• Had multiplication tables, square roots
and reciprocals• Had knowledge of pi and geometry• Had a mile measurement (appx. 7 miles
= 1 Babylonian mile)
Babylonian DemiseBabylonian Demise
• After Hammurabi’s death, the Babylonian Empire became weak.
• The Babylonian Empire fell about 1600 BCE
• After Hammurabi’s death, the Babylonian Empire became weak.
• The Babylonian Empire fell about 1600 BCE
Hittite InvasionHittite Invasion
• The Hittites moved into Mesopotamia and invaded Babylon in 1595 BCE
• Hittites were great metalworkers• They were some of the first people to
utilize iron for making weapons • Iron weapons were stronger than
their enemies’ bronze weapons.• By 1200 BCE, iron replaced bronze• This was the beginning of the “Iron
Age”
• The Hittites moved into Mesopotamia and invaded Babylon in 1595 BCE
• Hittites were great metalworkers• They were some of the first people to
utilize iron for making weapons • Iron weapons were stronger than
their enemies’ bronze weapons.• By 1200 BCE, iron replaced bronze• This was the beginning of the “Iron
Age”
HittitesHittites
• Hittites were from Anatolia (Turkey)
• They had an expansive trade network
• Internal fighting weakened the Hittites and led to their demise
• Hittites were from Anatolia (Turkey)
• They had an expansive trade network
• Internal fighting weakened the Hittites and led to their demise
The Assyrian EmpireThe Assyrian Empire
• Located on the upper Tigris• This empire was built by
conquering with fierce military strategy
• They used wealth of captured cities to expand their empire
• They would export conquered people to avoid coups
• Located on the upper Tigris• This empire was built by
conquering with fierce military strategy
• They used wealth of captured cities to expand their empire
• They would export conquered people to avoid coups
Assyrian EmpireAssyrian Empire
• Nineveh and Ashur were capitals• Ashur was named after the patron
god of war• They did not consider their kings to
be divine• They built aqueducts • Assyria collapsed following the
death of Ashurbanipal (627 BCE) • Nineveh was sacked in 612 BCE
• Nineveh and Ashur were capitals• Ashur was named after the patron
god of war• They did not consider their kings to
be divine• They built aqueducts • Assyria collapsed following the
death of Ashurbanipal (627 BCE) • Nineveh was sacked in 612 BCE
Assyrian WarriorsAssyrian Warriors
• Nineveh was built to withstand invaders
• Outer city wall was 200 feet high and three chariots could ride side by side on top
• Assyrians would ask a city to surrender. If they did not, they utilized siege.
• Nineveh was built to withstand invaders
• Outer city wall was 200 feet high and three chariots could ride side by side on top
• Assyrians would ask a city to surrender. If they did not, they utilized siege.
Assyrian WarriorsAssyrian Warriors
• They were the first to use battering rams
• Their army used many techniques and weapons
• Army wasn’t strong enough to protect entire empire. Internal dissent and attacks weakened the empire.
• They were the first to use battering rams
• Their army used many techniques and weapons
• Army wasn’t strong enough to protect entire empire. Internal dissent and attacks weakened the empire.
Neo-Babylonian EmpireNeo-Babylonian Empire
• After Nineveh fell, Babylonians rose to power again
• Nabopolassar was the first king of the empire
• His son, Nebuchadrezzar, was the most famous Neo-Babylonian king.
• After Nineveh fell, Babylonians rose to power again
• Nabopolassar was the first king of the empire
• His son, Nebuchadrezzar, was the most famous Neo-Babylonian king.
Neo-Babylonian EmpireNeo-Babylonian Empire
• Nebuchadrezzar expanded the empire
• He conquered Syria and part of Canaan. He exported the Egyptians and Hebrews from their lands.
• He created gardens for his palace now know as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
• Nebuchadrezzar expanded the empire
• He conquered Syria and part of Canaan. He exported the Egyptians and Hebrews from their lands.
• He created gardens for his palace now know as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Neo-BabyloniansNeo-Babylonians
• They created the first sundial• The tower of babel is
associated with Etemenaki, a ziggurat built by Nabopolassar
• The Neo-Babylonian empire lasted from 612-539 BCE
• They created the first sundial• The tower of babel is
associated with Etemenaki, a ziggurat built by Nabopolassar
• The Neo-Babylonian empire lasted from 612-539 BCE
