Download The Akkadians and The Babylonians

The Akkadians and The
Babylonians
•In this lesson, students will examine
civilizations that developed in
Mesopotamia.
•Students will be able to define the
following terms:
•The Akkadians
•The Babylonians
•The Code of Hammurabi
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“Mesopotamia” is a Greek term. It means
“between rivers”. It is the land between
Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
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The Sumerians
• The Sumerians developed an early
civilization in Mesopotamia.
• The Sumerians lived in independent citystates.
• The Sumerian city-states never united.
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The Sumerians built ziggurats or temples
To their gods.
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Sargon I
• Eventually, Sargon I united the city-states
of Mesopotamia.
• Sargon I ruled a kingdom north of Sumer
called Akkad.
• The Akkadians ruled the city-states of
Mesopotamia.
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Sargon I was a powerful Akkadian
ruler. He built the first empire when
he conquered the city-states of
Mesopotamia.
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The Akkadians had their own language
but used Sumerian cuneiform to keep
records.
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The Babylonians
• Around 1800 B.C., a new city-state arose
in Mesopotamia.
• It was called Babylon.
• Hammurabi was an important king of
Babylon. He conquered the Akkadians
and the Sumerians.
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The Code of Hammurabi
• Hammurabi was an important king.
• He created the first written law code.
• The Code of Hammurabi provided harsh
punishments. It also treated people
differently based on social class.
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“If a seignior (noble) has knocked out the
tooth of a seignior of his own rank, they
shall knock out his tooth. But if he has
knocked out a commoner’s tooth, he shall
pay one-third mina of silver.”
-Code of Hammurabi
This passage from the Code of Hammurabi
shows that divisions existed between the
social classes.
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Let’s Review!
• Define Mesopotamia.
• Why did civilization develop in
Mesopotamia?
• Who were the Sumerians?
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Why did early civilizations develop in
river valleys?
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Questions for Reflection:
• Why was Sargon I a significant ruler?
• Provide an example of cultural diffusion from
the Akkadian conquest of the Sumerian citystates.
• Who was Hammurabi?
• What did Hammurabi create?
• Why is it said that “divisions existed
between the social classes” in the Code of
Hammurabi?
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