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The City-States of Ancient
Mesopotamia
and Hammurabi
Day 1
2.1
2.1 Civilization Begins in
Mesopotamia
• What is the valley that the ancient
Greeks spoke of as the land
between the Tigris and Euphrates
Rivers?
–Mesopotamia or the Fertile
Crescent
• Farming could only be done in
ancient Mesopotamia when the
people controlled the flow of the
rivers-irrigation
• Origins remained a mystery
• By 3000 BC they had established a
number of independent cities in
southern Mesopotamia including:
– Eridu
– Ur
– Uruk
• These were eventually called City
States-basic units of Sumerian
civilization
• Sumerian cities were surrounded by
walls even though little stone or wood
was used.
– What was used instead that are still
used today?
• Gods, Goddesses, and Rulers
– The most important building in the city
would be the Ziggurat.
– This temple was for the Gods and
only Priest and Priestess could enter
–Society as a whole spent lots of
their personal wealth on supporting
this facility
–The Priest who were affiliated with
these temples held the power
• Sumerians believed that the gods
ruled the cities, making the state
a theocracy, or a government by
divine authority
• Eventually ruling power passed into
the hands of worldly figure or kings.
• Sumerians viewed kingship as a
divine right…….what does that
mean?
• Kings led armies, ruled territory,
supervised in the building of public
works, and organized irrigation
• Gradually the king and his family
began to live in lavish homes and
palaces
Economy and Society
• Copper, tin, and timber were all
traded or exchanged for dried fish,
wool, barley, wheat, and metal goods.
• Sumerians were known for their
pottery and woolen textiles
• Invention of the wheeled cart made
trade more accessible
Empires
• In the north were the Akkadiansleader was Sargon-2340 BC
– Officially this is the first empire in history
• 1792 BC city-state south of Akkadia
named Babylon which was led by
Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi
• He is remembered for his law code, a
collection of 282 laws
• System based on a strict code of
justice
• Work on hand out (Pg. 41) and
start your unit sheet
• Next home work is to read
Chapter 2 section 2 or 2.2 in
your book…have a great
weekend