Chapter 6 - History Alive!

Capital

A city that is the center of government.

Siege

A military blockade and attack on a city to force it to surrender.

Aqueduct

A pipe or channel that brings water from distant places.

Bas-relief

A sculpture in which the image projects out from a flat surface

Neo-Babylonian Empire

After the fall of Nineveh, the Babylonians regained control over Mesopotamia. They established a new empire, the NeoBabylonian Empire. (Neo means "new.")

empire

An empire is a LARGE territory where several groups of people are ruled by a single powerful leader or government.

Assyrian Empire

Assyria lay to the north of Babylon. The Assyrians had lived in Mesopotamia for a long time. They had even briefly had their own empire before being conquered by Hammurabi. They rose to power again toward 900 B.C.E., when a series of rulers began training them for war. With their trained army, the Assyrians began to expand their territory.

Akkadian Empire

For 1,500 years, Sumer was a land of independent city-states. Then around 2300 BCE, the Akkadians conquered the land. The Akkadians came from northern Mesopotamia. They were led by a great king named Sargon. Sargon became the first ruler of the Akkadian Empire. Capital: Agade (Akkad) in Northern Mesopotamia.

Babylonian Empire

Hammurabi was the king of Babylon, a small city-state in central Mesopotamia. After conquering the rest of Mesopotamia, he made Babylon the capital of his empire. The region under his rule became known as Babylonia.

Hammurabi

Hammurabi was the king of Babylon, a small city-state in central Mesopotamia. After conquering the rest of Mesopotamia, he made Babylon the capital of his empire. The region under his rule became known as Babylonia.

3. Who was Hammurabi? What was the significance of his code of laws?

Hammurabi's code of laws (1792 to 1750 B.C.E.) Hammurabi used the CODE OF LAWS to UNIFY his empire and to PRESERVE ORDER. He based the laws not just on his own authority, but on the word of the gods. He claimed that the gods had told him to create laws that applied to everyone in the empire. Because they were based on the gods' will, the laws could never be changed. The code of laws was written on a stele and placed in a temple for everyone to see. It covered situations if trade, payment for work, marriage, and divorce. The code spelled out punishments for stealing, causing injury, and other crimes. it was the first code of laws to apply to everyone.

Nebuchadrezzar

Nebuchadrezzar II was the most famous King of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He was a ruthless military leader, he reigned from 605 to 562 B.C.E. Nebuchadrezzar expanded his empire whenever he could. He drove the Egyptians out of Syria. He also conquered part of Canaan (present-day Israel), the home of the Hebrews. When the Hebrews rebelled, he took most of them captive and carried them off into Babylonia. Many of them never returned to their homeland.

Nineveh

Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian Empire. It had great palaces and aqueducts. The aqueduct was the system of canals that brought drinking water to Nineveh from 30 miles away.

Sargon

Sargon ruled his empire for 56 years. During that time, he made the city of Agade in northern Mesopotamia the empire's capital. He built up the city with tributes, or money and goods, collected from the people he conquered. Agade became a cultural center with many beautiful temples and palaces. It was one of the richest and most powerful cities in the world.

6. Hypothesize as to why so much conquest took place in Mesopotamia. Explain your hypothesis.

So much conquest took place in Mesopotamia because the different city-states never united into one group. Their lack of unity left them open to attacks by stronger groups that made the city-states part of their growing empires. Empires were often so large and their military forces spread so thin that they didn't last long.

2. Did the Akkadians adopt Sumerian writing and language? Explain.

The Akkadians ruled Sumer, but the Sumerians' culture lived on. The Akkadians used SUMERIAN IRRIGATION techniques to farm. To record information, they used the Sumerians' system of CUNEIFORM WRITING. They even WORSHIPED THE SAME GODS AND GODDESSES, although they called them by different names. Religion remained central to the social order, and kings continued to rule in the name of the gods. AKKADIAN LANGUAGE GRADUALLY REPLACED SUMERIAN LANGUAGE.

4. What was life like in Mesopotamia under Assyrian rule?

The Assyrian Empire was ruled by powerful kings. Religion remained very important in the social and political order. Even kings were obliged to obey the gods.

Persian Empire

The Neo-Babylonian Empire lasted only 75 years. In 539 B.C.E., a new conqueror swept into Babylon from the east. His name was Cyrus, and he was the leader of the Persian Empire. The Persians came from the land we now call Iran. For about 200 years, they ruled the most powerful empire in the world. Later the Persians were conquered by Alexander the Great.

Astronomy

The study of stars and planets.

Tributes

Wealth sent from one country or ruler to another as a sign that the other is superior.

5. What were Nebuchadrezzar's accomplishments?

• KEPT BABYLON SAFE by building an inner wall and an outer wall around the city. The walls were so thick that two chariots could pass each other on top of them. Towers were placed on the walls for archers to stand on. A moat was dug around the outer wall and filled with water. During peacetime, people used bridges to cross the moat and enter the city. In times of war, the bridges were taken down. • GAVE BABYLON THE SPLENDOR it had enjoyed under Hammurabi. Rebuilt the city's ziggurat. This huge structure was several stories high. The Babylonians called it the "House of the Platform Between Heaven and Earth." • Decorated his palace with fabulous gardens. They became famous as the HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON. The gardens were planted on rooftops and tall terraces so that lush greenery hung down over the walls. A watering system kept the gardens fresh and green. THEY WERE ONE OF THE GREAT WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. • The Babylonians were also SKILLED IN MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY. They created the first SUNDIAL, a device for telling time using the sun. They made discoveries that led us to the 60-MINUTE HOUR AND THE 7-DAY WEEK.

1. What strategies did Sargon use to conquer the independent city-states of Sumer? What strategies did he use to control and maintain his empire?

•strong king-->smart political strategies: destroyed city walls, appointed loyal governors of the city states. 1st king to demand his sons ruled after his death. •skilled general--> powerful military strategies: assembled a large army. Taught his soldiers to fight in tight formations: Soldiers carrying shields in the front--Behind them soldiers carrying spears.