1. The Akkadians and The Babylonians
In this lesson, students will examine civilizations that developed in Mesopotamia.
Students will be able to define the following terms:
The Akkadians
The Babylonians
The Code of Hammurabi

2. “Mesopotamia” is a Greek term. It means
“between rivers”. It is the land between
Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

3. The Sumerians
The Sumerians developed an early civilization in Mesopotamia.
The Sumerians lived in independent city-states.
The Sumerian city-states never united.

4. The Sumerians built ziggurats or temples
To their gods.

5. Sargon I Eventually, Sargon I united the city-states of Mesopotamia.
Sargon I ruled a kingdom north of Sumer called Akkad.
The Akkadians ruled the city-states of Mesopotamia.

6. Sargon I was a powerful Akkadian ruler. He built the first empire when
he conquered the city-states of
Mesopotamia.

7. The Akkadians had their own language
but used Sumerian cuneiform to keep
records.

8. The Babylonians
Around 1800 B.C., a new city-state arose in Mesopotamia.
It was called Babylon.
Hammurabi was an important king of Babylon. He conquered the Akkadians and the Sumerians.

10. The Code of Hammurabi Hammurabi was an important king.
He created the first written law code.
The Code of Hammurabi provided harsh punishments. It also treated people differently based on social class.

11. “If a seignior (noble) has knocked out the tooth of a seignior of his own rank, they shall knock out his tooth. But if he has knocked out a commoner’s tooth, he shall pay one-third mina of silver.”
-Code of Hammurabi
This passage from the Code of Hammurabi
shows that divisions existed between the
social classes.

12. Let’s Review! Define Mesopotamia.
Why did civilization develop in Mesopotamia?
Who were the Sumerians?

13. Why did early civilizations develop in
river valleys?

14. Questions for Reflection:
Why was Sargon I a significant ruler?
Provide an example of cultural diffusion from the Akkadian conquest of the Sumerian city-states.
Who was Hammurabi?
What did Hammurabi create?
Why is it said that “divisions existed between the social classes” in the Code of Hammurabi?