Download Later Peoples of the Fertile Crescent

Later Peoples of the
Fertile Crescent
5th Grade World History- Mrs. Sing
Essential Question
5th Grade-Old World History
Explain facts about
the Sumer, one of
the world's first
civilizations.
Background
 Many people invaded
Mesopotamia.
 They inherited the
Sumerians’ innovations
and created some of
their own.
Babylonians
 By 2000 BC, Ur lay in ruins due
to continued attacks by
different people.
 Babylon was the capital of some
of these invaders.
 It was located near what is
today Baghdad.
 In 1792 BC, Hammurabi
became king.
 He would become the city’s
greatest ruler.
Hammurabi the Ruler
 He was a brilliant leader who had
expanded his power through the
army. His empire was known as
the Babylonian Empire.
 Hammurabi ruled for 42 years.
 He was also an able ruler:
 Building and irrigation
improvements
 Improved Babylon’s tax system.
 Most famous however, for his
code of laws.
Hammurabi’s Code
 It was a set of 282 laws that dealt with
almost every part of daily life.
 Laws that included: trade, loans, theft,
marriage, injury, murder and so on.
 Some ideas are still used today:
 Certain crimes had very specific penalties.
 Class did matter!
 The code was available for everyone to
see.
Ask Yourself
 Explain:
 How did Hammurabi conquer Mesopotamia?
 Draw Conclusions:
 Why would it have been helpful for people to have
the law code written down?
Invasions of Mesopotamia
 The Hittites built a strong kingdom in
Asia Minor.
 Their military success came from their
advantages over other rivals:
 They were the first to master iron
working, this meant they made the
strongest weapons of the time.
 They used the chariot (a wheeled, horsedrawn cart used in battle).
 Hittites conquer Babylon in 1595 BC, but
their kingdom plunges into chaos after
their king is assassinated.
Invasions of Mesopotamia
 In the year 1200 BC, the
Assyrians from northern
Mesopotamia, briefly gained
control of Babylon, and soon
lost it.
 They took 300 years to recover
their strength, after which, they
began to conquer the entire
Fertile Crescent, as far as Asia
Minor and Egypt.
 They used Hittite technology
and a more organized army.
Invasions of Mesopotamia
 They were fierce warriors!
 They looted villages and
burned crops.
 The Assyrians ruled from
Nineveh.
 The rulers used local leaders
to govern small areas, collect
taxes and enforce laws.
Invasions of Mesopotamia
 In 625 BC, the Assyrian Empire
faced internal strife. They were
attacked by a dessert people
called the Chaldeans.
 Their king, Nebuchadnezzar
rebuilt Babylon.
 He built the famous palace with
its Hanging Gardens.
Invasions of Mesopotamia
 The Chaldeans admired the
Sumerian culture and
studied their language and
idolized their gods.
 Babylon became an
astronomical center.
 They kept records of
everything: economics,
politics and weather events.
Ask Yourself
 Recall:
 How did the Hittite kingdom come to an end?
 Identify:
 What military advantages did the Assyrians have?
 What was the opportunity the Chaldeans seized to rise?
 Draw Conclusions:
 How do you think the use of chariots by Hittites affect the
opposing army’s foot soldiers?
 Summarize:
 How did the Assyrians rule their empire?