1. Conquests and Empires

2. Causes and Effects of Conflict
Most wars were fought over farmland and water rights.
No natural boundaries (no mountains, flat land) to separate city-states
Therefore, city-states put up pillars to mark borders.
Pillars were moved and destroyed, which often led to war.
New weapons/technology-War chariot

3. War Chariot

4. Terms to Know
Empire: conquered land of many people and places governed by one ruler
Emperor: Ruler of an empire

5. Sargon the Conqueror First known conqueror in Mesopotamia
Served as a leader in the city-state, Kish, before killing the king and taking control.
Made an army and created an empire through Mesopotamia – What was he now???
New capital, Akkad
Ruled for 55 years
First paid army
Effective, organized ruler
By about 2300 BC, the empire weakened.

6. Hammurabi the Lawgiver
BC Hammurabi, king of city-state Babylon, conquered and reunited most of Mesopotamia.
This became the Babylonian Empire
Improved the city-states by promoting trade, building products, and maintaining the dikes and canals-Babylon thrived as a center for trade.
Created system of taxation-everyone paid their share

7. Hammurabi the Lawgiver
Best known for his collection of laws, The Code of Hammurabi
282 laws-covered almost every part of life-marriage, divorce, adoption, murder, slaves, lands, and more
Old laws were complicated and unfair. These were clear and had standard punishments such as, “An eye for an eye.”
Introduced equal justice-fair treatment
By 1600 BC the Babylonians were conquered.

8. The Assyrians
The conquered and their empire extended outside of Mesopotamia
Great desire to control trade routes in southwestern Asia
Conquered neighbors one by one using war chariots
United their empire by building roads
Capital-Nineveh
612 BC- the empire was brought down by invaders from the northwest