Babylonia and Assyria Objective 2.3- Explain how codifying laws met The needs of ancient societies.

The Two Empires of Mesopotamia After the Sumerians were defeated, Mesopotamia had two main empires: Babylonia and Assyria. An empire is an area of many territories and people that are controlled by one government. The Babylonian empire lasted from around 1800 BC to 1600 BC. The Assyrian empire lasted from around 665 BC to 612 BC.

Babylon - “Gate of God” As we recall from earlier, the Sumerians were conquered by the Babylonians. The king of Babylon was Hammurabi. Hammurabi united the cities of Sumer and then expanded his empire all the way to Asia Minor

A Crossroads of Trade Babylon’s location made it a good place for trade. Groups of travelers, called caravans, traveled back and forth between the Babylonian cities. Babylon had special markets, called bazaars, where people bought cotton from India They could also bought spices from Egypt. Babylon became rich due to trade.

Hammurabi’s Code Hammurabi was the king who united most of Mesopotamia and conquered the Sumerians. He developed a “code” of laws. The laws were numbered from 1 to 282. Some people summarize Hammurabi’s code by saying “an eye for an eye.” There are harsh or severe laws in Hammurabi’s Code. Hammurabi’s Code had Civil and Criminal Laws. A statue of Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s Laws Law number 196 states: If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. Law number 195 states: If a son strike his father, his hands shall be hewn off. If a freeman brings false testimony in a case that carries the death sentence, he shall be put to death. out.

On the left is a statue, which has all 282 of Hammurabi’s laws engraved on it. This statue is located in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Why would Hammurabi use statues like this?

Babylonia is Conquered Hammurabi conquered many of the neighboring cities, and he kept expanding his empire. Hammurabi would often go to war against his allies as well. Each time that Babylon would conquer another city, Hammurabi would take the city’s chariots, weapons, tools, and all their riches. Trading helped Babylon get rich, and so did conquest. the Kings that ruled after Hammurabi could not keep Babylon together. The empire kept getting smaller and smaller until eventually it was destroyed.

The Assyrians Rise to Power Assyria was located north of Babylon. Their city was located in open land that was easily attacked, and they had to constantly defend themselves against invaders. Therefore, they became skilled warriors. At around 1365 B.C., the Assyrians decided to invade Babylon.

The Assyrian War Machine The Assyrians were geniuses at waging war. HORSES battering ram, catapults archers (people who use a bow and arrows) helmets and armor.

Assyrian Learning The capital of the Assyrian Empire was a city called Nineveh. Nineveh became a great city of learning. It had a famous library that held thousands of clay tablets with writings from Sumer and Babylon. These records tell us a lot about life in Mesopotamia. Eventually the Assyrians would fall to a people know as the Persians

Those seafaring Phoenicians The Phoenicians were very skilled at sailing the Mediterranean Sea. They are remembered for Creating the first true Alphabet. They also carried d Mesopotamian ideas all over the Mediterranean.

The Phoenician alphabet.

The Phoenician empire. Obviously, very coastal and thus based on trade and maritime pursuits.

A Phoenician-style vessel.

Your Own Code With a Partner create your own code of laws. Label Your name’s Code (ex. Mr. Pergerson’s Code) Create 7 laws Create 7 punishments for breaking those laws. Decorate your code so it grabs the readers attention. You may work with a partner but you must complete your own Code