Notes: Chapter 4, Lesson 1“Mesopotamian Empires”

Sargon Builds an Empire

About 2350 BC, Sargon created the 1st empire: the Akkadian Empire

The Akkadian Empire influenced many empires around it, especially in its system of writing.

Hammurabi

The Babylonians conquered the Akkadian empire.

A powerful Babylonian emperor named Hammurabi expanded and organized the empire.

Sargon & Hammurabi’s Empires

Akkadian Empire Babylonian Empire

Hammurabi’s Law Code

Hammurabi used a code of law to help him control the empire.

The code was extremely strict and hoped to create a fear of breaking the law.

The Influence of Hammurabi’s Law Code The code did not

treat everyone equally, but it did establish the idea that everyone should follow the law and was subject to consequences if they broke the law.