Mesopotamia PDF

Mesopotamian Society  The Sumerians did not form a strong or united government. Wars over land and water rights were Sumer falls to conquerors… common among the city-states. By 2400 B.C., the fighting...

Mesopotamian Society  The Sumerians did not form a strong or united government. Wars over land and water rights were Sumer falls to conquerors… common among the city-states. By 2400 B.C., the fighting weakened these city-states. Akkadian Empire The kingdom of Akkad was in Northern Mesopotamia. Akkad’s leader, Sargon, and his armies fought the city-states of Sumer. Sargon united Sumer and Akkad to form an empire. The kingdom of Sargon was known to be the first empire ever formed. It lasted for more than 200 years. The Amorites lived in a region west of Mesopotamia. They took over Mesopotamia. The Amorites built cities in Mesopotamia, and the biggest of these cities was Babylon. Hammurabi becomes the king of Babylon. Hammurabi conquers the Amorite cities and form the Babylonian Empire  The Code of Hammurabi- a system or set of laws for many different things. The code had punishment for each crime. Babylonian Empire The code called for “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” - What does this mean? The Code of Hammurabi shaped later law codes. Hammurabi’s laws seem harsh today. They show many inequalities in Babylonian society. Nobles and priests were punished less severely than common people. Women had fewer legal rights than men, but some owned property and were allowed to testify in court. Laws protected Mesopotamian wives from abuse and neglect, and made sure they received some payment if they were divorced. On the other hand, a wife might be forced into slavery for a period of time to pay back a debt her husband owed.  “If a man put out the eye of “If a builder build a house for another man, his eye shall be put someone, and does not construct out.” it properly. And the house which he built fall in and kill its owner, “If he break another man’s bone, then that builder shall be put to his bone shall be broken.” death.” “If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be “If it kill the son of the owner of knocked out.” the house, the son of that builder shall be put to death.”  “If a slave strikes its owner, his ear will be cut off.” “If a man wants to separate from a woman who has given birth to “If anyone strikes anyone of his children, a part of land and lower rank, the victim shall money has to be given to her by commit the same injury as was the husband. When the children done to him - or herself upon the offender.” grow up, the wife can remarry.” “If one does not take good “If a man is committed robbery, enough care of a dam, and the but can not prove ir, his hand dam breaks, he shall be sold for money, which will replace the shall be cut off.” corn ruined due to the overflowing of the crops.”  The Assyrians lived in Northern Mesopotamia. They built a large, powerful army. Around 900 B.C., this army started to take over Mesopotamia. Nineveh- Assyria’s capital city Under Ashurbanipal, Mesopotamia was subdued by iron-wielding Assyrian army. They destryoed towns, robbed people and set the crops on fire. They forced the Assyrian Empire people to pay them money. Assyrian Empire The Assyrians were masters of the art of war. Their army came to be recognized as the most disciplined army during their time. The empire was divided into provinces, and roads connected the provinces. The king chose a person to rule each province and they were all under the control of the king.  Assyrian Empire The Assyrians used law codes, which had harsh punishments. They also wrote stories and had put these works in a large library. The Assyrians were traders as well, as they did a large amount of trading. They traded wood and metal to make more weapons, tools, and infrastructures. The death of Ashurbanipal marked the beginning of the decline of the empire. The empire lasted for about 300 years Chaldean Empire a.k.a New Babylonian Empire After the defeat of the Assyrians, Babylon once again became the center of the Chaldean empire. Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler, rebuilt Babylon and made it the largest and richest city in the world. Hanging Gardens Chaldean Empire a.k.a New Babylonian Empire Nebuchadnezzar capture Jerusalem, and the captive Jews were brought to Babylon and enslaved them The death of Nebuchadnezzar ushered the end of the Chaldean empire. It was the Chaldeans who first made advances in Science, astronomers, who made the first sundial to measure time, and the first to use a seven-day week.