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Babylonia

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An empire is an area of land with different peoples and societies that are under the control of one ruler.

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The Akkadian Empire

  • Sargon was the first ruler of the Akkadian Empire
  • Sargon was a strong king and a skilled general.
  • Sargon used his military skills to win territory for his empire.
  • Sargon unified the Akkadian people along with the people of Sumer.
  • Akkadian Empire lasted for 142 years before it collapsed

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  • Sargon dies in 2279 B.C.E
  • The Empire didn’t last long as Sargon the Great’s sons were weak leaders.
  • Rebellions and invasions led the empire to collapse

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Fighting for Mesopotamia

  • Empires were created and destroyed in the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia)
  • City-states fought for control over the rich territory
  • After years of struggle, a man named Hammurabi united the region
  • His empire was called the Babylonian Empire

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The Babylonian Empire

  • Babylon was a small city-state on the Euphrates river (Present day Iraq)
  • In Babylon, King Hammurabi created the center of the Mesopotamian Empire
  • 1792 B.C.E: Hammurabi becomes king of Babylon

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The Babylonian Empire

  • Hammurabi built up his army and attacked other city-states
  • He sent his own tax collectors, judges, and governors to rule distant cities
  • Encouraged growth and trade

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Hammurabi’s Code

  • Set of laws that governed life in Babylonian Empire
  • Includes nearly 300 laws
  • Set up specific punishments for robbery and murder
  • Also dealt with contracts, marriage, and divorce

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Babylonian Empire

  • Trade was increased by a network of roads that were built throughout the empire.
  • Caravans – groups of travelers. They stopped in Babylon on their way between Assyria and Sumer.
  • Bazaars – markets where trade occurred.

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A bazaar today!

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The Babylonian Empire

  • Hammurabi built a network of roads and created a postal service.
  • Agriculture and trade flourished.
  • The society was very fair for its time. Slaves and women could own property and keep their own money.
  • Slaves could even buy their own freedom.

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Wealth Through Conquest

  • When a king conquered a land, he gained all of the wealth associated with that land.
  • Hammurabi conquered the city of Mari in 1760 BC and seized their chariots, weapons, and tools.

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Daily Life in Babylonia

  • Most people were farmers
  • Food was grown and distributed
  • Built irrigation canals
  • Wool was used for clothing
  • Traders bought and sold goods
  • New tools, weapons, pottery, and perfumes and medicine
  • Known for bronze and stone sculptures
  • Used gold and precious stones to make jewelry

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Hammurabi’s Code

  • Set of laws that governed life in Babylonian Empire
  • Includes nearly 300 laws
  • Set up specific punishments for robbery and murder
  • Also dealt with contracts, marriage, and divorce

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Hammurabi’s Code

  • Established rule of law: everyone must obey the law
  • Harsh punishments that encouraged social order
  • Attempted to write down all laws that governed society

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On the left is a stela, which has all 282 of Hammurabi’s laws engraved on it. This stela is located in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

The Hammurabi stela was discovered in 1909, in Susa, Elam, which is now Khuzestan. Khuzestan is a province of southern Iran.

Susa