1. Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent
Chapter 3
Section 4- Later Peoples of the Fertile Crescent

2. Section 4- Later Peoples of the Fertile Crescent
The Big Idea
After the Sumerians, many cultures ruled parts of the Fertile Crescent.
Main Ideas
The Babylonians conquered Mesopotamia and created a code of law.
Invasions of Mesopotamia changed the region’s culture.
The Phoenicians built a trading society in the eastern Mediterranean region.

3. Main Idea 1: The Babylonians conquered Mesopotamia and created a code of law.
Hammurabi was Babylon’s king.
During his rule, Babylon became the most important city in Mesopotamia.
Hammurabi’s Code was a set of 282 laws he created that dealt with almost every part of daily life.

4. Hammurabi
Babylon’s king and the city’s greatest monarch, or ruler of a kingdom or empire
Brilliant war leader who brought all of Mesopotamia into his Babylonian Empire
Oversaw building and irrigation projects and improved the tax system
Developed a set of laws that was written down for all to see

6. Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi wrote down 282 laws which contained some ideas still found in laws today.
Specific crimes brought specific penalties.
Social class was taken into account. It was a greater crime to injure a rich man than a poor one.
It was unique not only because of how thorough it was, but also because he wrote it down for all to see.

7. Video: Sargon the Great and Hammurabi (13:49)

8. Main Idea 2: Invasions of Mesopotamia changed the region’s culture.
Armies battled for control of fertile land.
Different peoples ruled Mesopotamia.
Hittites
Kassites
Assyrians
Chaldeans
Each group affected the culture of the region.

9. The Hittites & Kassites
The Hittites were the first to master ironworking, so they made the strongest weapons of the time.
They used the chariot, a wheeled, horse-drawn cart, which allowed them to move quickly around the battlefield.
They were taken over by the Kassites after their king was assassinated.
The Kassites ruled for almost 400 years.
Video: Lost Civilization of the Hittites (5:00 minutes)

10. Video: Babylonia and Assyria (10:52)
The Assyrians
The Assyrians had a strong army that used chariots and iron weapons.
They spread terror before battles by looting villages and burning crops.
Assyrian kings ruled their empire through local leaders who each governed a small area.
The local leaders demanded heavy taxes.
Video: Babylonia and Assyria (10:52)

11. Assyrian Empire Falls and the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (9:29)
The Chaldeans
The Chaldeans attacked the Assyrians when they were weak and destroyed their empire.
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon into a beautiful city that had the famous Hanging Gardens.
They admired the Sumerian culture, studied their language, and built temples to Sumerian gods.
Babylon became a center for astronomy.
Assyrian Empire Falls and the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (9:29)

12. Video: Decline of Babylonia (5:24)

13. Video: Phoenician Alphabet (2:51 minutes)
Main Idea 3: The Phoenicians built a trading society in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Resources
Prized Cedar trees for timber
Accessed the sea for trade
Built great harbors
Expansion of Trade
Sailed ships around the Mediterranean Sea
Founded several new colonies along the trade routes
Became wealthy
Alphabet
Recorded their activities
Made writing much easier for everyone
Is the basis for the English language
Video: Phoenician Alphabet (2:51 minutes)