2. Sargon I
• By 2400 B.C. power of Sumer faded
• Sargon I ruled northern Mesopotamia land
“Akkad”
– Conquered city-states of Sumer in 2300 B.C.
• He united city-states, created world’s 1st
empire
3. Akkadian Empire
• Empire – a group of states under one ruler
– Akkadian language developed
– Still worshipped Sumerian Gods
– Used cuneiform
• 50 year Sargon I rule
• After, empire fell
5. Hammurabi of Babylon
• 1800 B.C. new group the Amorites built cities
• Babylon (was one)
• King of Babylon: Hammurabi
– conquered Akkad & Sumer
– Ruled great new empire Babylon
– Worshipped Sumerian Gods w/ new Babylonian
names
6. Hammurabi of Babylon
• Hammurabi brought great new reforms
(improvements)
– Improved irrigation system
– Made God of Babylon above all others
– Reformed Code of Law
– He took best laws of each city-state & combined them
– This created one unified code for ALL city states to
live by
7. Hammurabi of Babylon
• Appointed royal judges to carry out code
• Dishonest judges punished
• Code of Law
– Covered daily life
• Ex: Innocent until proven guilty
• Once proven guilty punishment
8. Babylon
• Became important trade center
– India, China
– Paid gold, silver for Babylonian goods
• Hammurabi ruled 40 years
• Reign – period of power
11. Mesopotamian Contributions
• Inventions, customs, and
ideas of Sumerian &
Babylonian
• Copied or improved by other
peoples
• Sumer
– 1st people to write laws down
– Cuneiform
– The Wheel, plow
• Developed 12-month
calendar
– Based on Moon cycles
– Mathematics:
– Developed number system
based on 60
– 60-minute hour, 60-second
minute, 360-degree circle