3.2 Later Mesopotamian Empires 

1. Sumer – 2400BC power declines

- many different invaders 2.Akkad – emerges under the

leadership of Sargon I - 2300BC

- conquer city-states of Sumer

- 1st empire-all of Mesopotamia - Akkadian language - Sumerian religion - adopted cuneiform - repaired and extended flood

control and irrigation systems - armies protected trade caravans - after death of Sargon, empire

collapses

3. Amorites – built cities along Tigris- Euphrates

- Babylon - Hammurabi

4. Hammurabi – conquered Akkad and Sumer

- empire as far as Mediterranean Sea

- adopted culture of conquered people

- language - gods

- made several changes - built and repaired canals for irrigation - reorganized tax system - government housing

- religion - Marduk now chief god - united people by

allowing worship of own gods as well as

chief god - trade center - India & China - gold and silver

5. Hammurabi’s code – took best laws from each city- states code and made one set of

laws - 282 laws about daily life - fair and just - appointed judges - innocent until proven guilty

- fines-death

- Golden Age of Babylon - ruled 40 yrs. - death, decline of empire