1. The First Empires

2. Sargon Sargon was king of the Akkadians After many years of fighting,
most of the Sumerian
City-States became weak.
Sargon used this to his
advantage and conquered all of Mesopotamia, creating the first ever empire.
Sargon’s empire lasted for over 200 years.

3. The Babylonians
About 200 years after Sargon created the Akkadian Empire, a Babylonian King began conquering nearby cities, overtook the Akkadians, and created the Babylonian Empire.
During this time, the city of Babylon became a great center for trade and education. People came from as far as China to trade here.
Hammurabi was the greatest Babylonian Ruler.

4. Hammurabi Hammurabi created the Babylonian Empire.
He is important because of his Code of Laws
He also: improved irrigation, reorganized the tax codes, made the Babylonian god higher than any other, and began a gov’t housing program.

5. The Assyrians
The Babylonians ruled Mesopotamia for close to 1,000 years before they were conquered by the Assyrians.
Assyria had:
a well organized army
1st to use iron weapons (made by the Hittites)
When they conquered a city they would move the people from their home to the other side of the Empire. Then, they would bring new settlers in and force them to pay high taxes.

7. The Assyrians
The empire was divided into provinces, with local leaders, to keep control over the people.
Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire
One of the world’s 1st libraries could be found here.
The harsh rule of the Assyrians led to their downfall.

8. The Chaldeans
The Chaldeans were descendants of the Babylonians so it was only fitting that they be the ones to rebel and conquer the Assyrians.
They rebuilt the city of Babylon as their capital under the guidance of King Nebuchadnezzar.
Babylon became a magificent center of trade, architecture, and culture under the Chaldeans.

9. The Chaldeans
While great at rebelling and rebuilding, the Chaldeans were not known for keeping hold of the power.
They were eventually conquered by the persians, allowing Mesopotamia to become part of the new Persian Empire.