Quick Summary In 2350 BC Sargon conquered much of Mesopotamia forming the Akkadian Empire Starting in 1790 BC Hammurabi formed the Babylonian Empire and introduced the Code of Hammurabi ID: 532869
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Slide1
The First Empires
Quick Summary:
In 2350 B.C., Sargon conquered much of Mesopotamia, forming the Akkadian Empire.
Starting in 1790 B.C., Hammurabi formed the Babylonian Empire and introduced the Code of Hammurabi.
The Kassite's and the Assyrians ruled the region after Hammurabi’s death. Slide2
Vocabulary
Conquer:
To take over.
Empire:
Vast lands and varied people under the control of a single government.
Emperor:
The ruler of an empire.
Standing army:
A permanent army.
Tribute:
Tribute is a required payment from one ruler to a more powerful ruler. Slide3
The Akkadian Empire
The Sumerian city-states wanted the wealth that came from controlling land and water.
Because of this, they were often at war with each other.
Around 2,300 B.C., the Akkadians, citizens of the city-state Akkad, began to extend their territory.
Eventually, the Akkadian army (outside of Sumer) came and conquered the Sumerians.
The leader of that army was Sargon I. Slide4Slide5
Sargon the Great
According to legend, Sargon had been found as a baby floating in a basket in a river.
He was then taken into the court of the king of the city of Kish where he served in several different positions.
Around 2,350 B.C., Sargon eventually rebelled against the king and defeat him.
Sargon marched his army across Mesopotamia, conquering one Sumerian city-state at a time.
He created the world’s first empire, which contained varied peoples under his rule.
He ruled for 55 years as emperor. Slide6Slide7
Akkadian Empire
Eventually Sargon’s empire would stretch from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to the Persian Gulf.
Sargon set up his capital at the city of Akkad, in central Mesopotamia.
Akkad became the most splendid city in all of Mesopotamia.
He was one of the first rulers to keep a standing army, a permeant army of paid soldiers. He was also one of the first to use large numbers of archers.
The Akkadian language became used throughout the empire which helped to improve trade and government.
Sargon allowed conquered cities to keep their traditional religions and even helped to support temples and priests.
However he did destroy records and statues of their previous rulers.Slide8Slide9
Akkadian Empire
Sargon used force and an organized government to maintain control over his empire.
Sargon chose officials who he knew would remain faithful and appointed loyal nobles as governors to control conquered cities.
Each governor provided Sargon with tribute collected from the conquered people.
This tribute brought much wealth to the empire under Sargon’s rule.
Towards the end of his reign, Sargon had to deal with many attempted rebellions against his rule.Slide10Slide11
Akkadian Empire
When he finally died, around 2215 BC, his empire began to break apart and would only last for another 30 years under the leadership of his two sons.
Akkad was eventually conquered and ruled by tribes from the north for over 200 years.
Eventually the city-state of Ur, which Sargon had conquered, rose in strength and conquered large parts of Mesopotamia.
Sumer’s city-states once again became independent. Slide12Slide13Slide14