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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.