FOUR EMPIRES OF MESOPOTAMIA

I. AKKADIAN EMPIRE

A. King Sargon created the world’s first empire through powerful military strategies.

I. AKKADIAN EMPIRE

B. sculpted steles1. Important because it gave us a history of the Akkadian empire.2. “Victory Stele”- is a famous stele that shows Naram-Sin’s victory

II. Babylonian Empire

A. Hammurabi developed a code of laws.1. He said that the gods told him to create laws.2. first code of laws ever

II. Babylonian Empire

B. Babylon developed as a trading center.1. It enriched people’s lives and brought new ideas to Babylon.

II. Babylonian Empire

C. fair society1. Slaves could buy their freedom.2. Women could own property.

III. Assyrian EmpireA. They were feared

for their military might and cruelty.

B. They created new weapons and war strategies.

III. Assyrian Empire

C. developed bas-reliefs: 2-dimensional sculptures

IV. Neo-Babylonian Empire

A. built protective walls and a moat around Babylon.

IV. Neo-Babylonian Empire

B. built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon