 Empire builders first conquer other lands, then use their power to keep them under control  Between 2300 and 539 B.C.E., 4 empires rose up in Mesopotamia

 2300 B.C.E. – conquered Sumer  Led by a great king named Sargon › Strong king, created large, powerful military strategies › Became first king to demand that his sons rule after his death  Greatest achievement: created world’s first empire  Reigned for 56 years  The empire fell after 200 years

 Hammurabi was king of Babylon (a city- state in Mesopotamia)  Hammurabi conquered Mesopotamia and became known as Babylon  Best known for his Code of Laws: › Claimed Gods told him to create equal laws (first set of laws that applied to everyone) › Written on a stele and placed in the temple › Laws covered payment for work, trade, marriages and divorce, punishments for crimes

 Babylon thrived under Hammurabi’s rule › People united › Agriculture flourished › Traded goods › Created postal service  Babylon was unusually fair › Slaves and women had rights

 Rose to power in 900 B.C.E.  Assyrians were feared for their strong and cruel army  Greatest achievements were their new weapons and war strategies  First to use battering rams  Lasted about 300 years, but became too big to control and fell in 612 B.C.E.

 Babylonians regained control over Mesopotamia and renamed it “The Neo- Babylonian Empire”  Most famous king was Nebuchadezzar II › Ruthless leader › Built inner and outer walls › Built towers and moats around city  The ziggurat was rebuilt and renamed – “House of the Platform between Heaven and Earth”

 Skilled in astronomy and mathematics  Created first sundial  Made discoveries that led to the 60- minute hour and 7 day week  Lasted only 75 years