Four Empires

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.


• 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


• 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

Documents

Four Empires