Do Now
 Take out your Homework and Practice Book and
vocabulary sheets.
 Open your textbook to page 121.
The First Empires
1. Why were Sumerian city-states often at war with
one another? How did Sargon conquer and create
the world’s first empire?
The First Empires
 Sumerian city-states wanted the wealth that came
from controlling land and water. Sargon rebelled
against the king of Kish and defeated him. Then,
Sargon marched his army across Mesopotamia,
conquering one Sumerian city-state at a time.
The First Empires
2. How did Sargon maintain control over his
empire? How was his army and government set
up?
The First Empires
 He used force and an organized government,
including a standing army and officials who were
faithful to him. He was one of the first rulers to
keep a standing army, a permanent army of paid
soldiers. Sargon chose officials who he knew
would remain faithful and appointed loyal nobles
and governors to control conquered cities.
The First Empires
 3. How many laws did the Code of Hammurabi
have, and what did these laws cover?
The First Empires
 The Code of Hammurabi consisted of 282 laws,
which covered such matters as family
relationships, taxes, land and business deals,
trade, loans, debts, wages, and crime.
The First Empires
4. What changes did Hammurabi do to organize
the old laws of Babylon? What quote is used to
represent the way he ruled?
The First Empires
 Hammurabi changed the old laws that were unfair
and made clear those that were confusing. The
quote used was:
“So that the strong should not harm the weak.”
The First Empires
 5. How can you tell Hammurabi believed he had
approval of the gods?
The First Empires
 His quote about how the gods told him to rule
with righteousness. “[The gods] called by name
me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, …to bring
about the rule of righteousness in the land.”
The First Empires
 6. How did Hammurabi show fairness in how he
ruled?
The First Empires
 He called himself “the shepherd of the oppressed
and of the slaves,” and that he had “brought about
the well-being of the oppressed.” He believed that
all people-even the defeated and the powerlessdeserve protection and justice. He knew that it
would not be right to do everything he had the
power to do. He could have let the poor starve,
denied rights to the powerless, and killed
conquered people. Instead, his actions were
guided by fairness.
The First Empires
 7. What 4 empires invaded and ruled
Mesopotamia? What helped the Assyrians gain
control of trade? (Include details!)
The First Empires
 The Hittites, Kassites, Assyrians, and the New
Babylonian Empire invaded and ruled
Mesopotamia. The Assyrians gained control of
trade with their mastery over powerful new
weapons. They learned how to make iron
weapons and war chariots. They also used the
battering ram, a heavy wooden beam used to
break down walls, and they were among the first
to use the lance, a spear attached to a long handle.
Wrap Up
 Complete page 29 of your Homework and Practice
Book.