Download Conquests and Empires

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Most wars were fought over farmland and
water rights.
No natural boundaries (no mountains, flat
land) to separate city-states
Therefore, city-states put up pillars to mark
borders.
Pillars were moved and destroyed, which often
led to war.
New weapons/technology-War chariot
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Empire: conquered land of many people and
places governed by one ruler
Emperor: Ruler of an empire
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First known conqueror in Mesopotamia
Served as a leader in the city-state, Kish, before
killing the king and taking control.
Made an army and created an empire through
Mesopotamia – What was he now???
New capital, Akkad
Ruled for 55 years
First paid army
Effective, organized ruler
By about 2300 BC, the empire weakened.
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1790-1750 BC Hammurabi, king of city-state
Babylon, conquered and reunited most of
Mesopotamia.
This became the Babylonian Empire
Improved the city-states by promoting trade,
building products, and maintaining the dikes
and canals-Babylon thrived as a center for
trade.
Created system of taxation-everyone paid their
share
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Best known for his collection of laws, The Code
of Hammurabi
282 laws-covered almost every part of lifemarriage, divorce, adoption, murder, slaves,
lands, and more
Old laws were complicated and unfair. These
were clear and had standard punishments such
as, “An eye for an eye.”
Introduced equal justice-fair treatment
By 1600 BC the Babylonians were conquered.
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The conquered and their empire extended
outside of Mesopotamia
Great desire to control trade routes in
southwestern Asia
Conquered neighbors one by one using war
chariots
United their empire by building roads
Capital-Nineveh
612 BC- the empire was brought down by
invaders from the northwest