Ms. Berry
Social Studies
6th grade
 Why
are laws important today?
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How did early civilizations protect
themselves and keep order with in
their societies?
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Most wars were fought over farmland and
water rights.
No natural boundaries
City-states put up pillars to mark borders
Pillars were destroyed and cities were taken
over
New weapons were created- war chariot
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First known conqueror
Was the King of the city-state Kish
Established an empire with his army
Became first emperor
Capital city was Akkad
Akkadians adopted the Sumerian culture
He ruled for 55 years
Created the first paid army
2300 B.C. the empire weakened
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1790-1750 B.C. Hammurabi, King of citystate Babylon conquered and reunited most
of Mesopotamia
Babylonian Empire
Promoted trade and building projects
Created a system of taxation- everyone paid
their share
Best known for his collection of laws- Code of
Hammurabi
By 1600 B.C. the Babylonians were conquered
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282 laws
Dealt with daily life topics such as marriage,
divorce, adoption, slaves, murder, stealing,
military service, land, business, loans, prices,
and wages
Set standard punishments
Introduced the idea of equal justice or fair
treatment under the law
However, this equality was limited to social
class
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The Hanging gardens of Babylon
Created by Nebuchadnezzar II, ruler of
Babylon from 605 to 562 B.C.
A series of terraced gardens that had
elaborate irrigation systems
Said that he built them to please his wife who
missed the forested mountains of her
homeland
http://www.unmuseum.org/hangg.htm
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Had a great desire to control trade routes
Conquered neighbors one by one using war
chariots
United their empire by building roads
Capital city was Nineveh
612 B.C. the empire was brought down by
Medes, invaders from the Northwest
 How
did the people of
Mesopotamia maintain order and
protect themselves from
outsiders?