Ancient Sumer
These independent political units of ancient Sumer often fought over land and water and never united.
What are city-states?
Around 2300 B.C.E., this group conquered Sumer and formed the world’s first empire.
Who were the Akkadians?
He united Mesopotamia after the Akkadians and established a famous law code.
Who is Hammurabi?
This fierce group rose to power around 900 B.C.E. and became known for their cruelty and military might.
Who were the Assyrians?
This ruthless king expanded the Neo-Babylonian Empire and built massive defensive walls around Babylon.
Who is Nebuchadrezzar II?
Sumer’s lack of this quality made it vulnerable to attacks from stronger groups.
What is unity?
He was the first ruler of the Akkadian Empire and known for strong military strategies.
Who is Sargon?
Hammurabi claimed that these beings ordered him to write his code of laws.
Who are the gods?
They were the first known civilization to use these heavy, wheeled devices to break down city walls.
What are battering rams?
These famous rooftop gardens were considered one of the wonders of the ancient world.
What are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?
This region, where Sumer once flourished, was later ruled by four major empires between 2300 and 539 B.C.E.
What is Mesopotamia?
This famous carved stone depicts Sargon’s grandson leading a victorious army up a mountain slope.
What is the Victory Stele?
The Babylonian god that Hammurabi made supreme over all others.
Who is Marduk?
These two-dimensional carved artworks decorated Assyrian palaces.
What are bas-reliefs?
The Neo-Babylonians invented this early time-measuring device.
What is the sundial?
Sargon helped prevent rebellion by destroying these city structures.
What are city walls?
This river made Babylon a major center of trade.
What is the Euphrates River?
To supply water to their cities, the Assyrians built some of the earliest versions of these structures.
What are aqueducts?
The Neo-Babylonians contributed to the development of our 60-minute hour and our ___-day week.
What is a 7-day week?
About 200 years after its rise, this empire fell to invaders from the north.
What is the Akkadian Empire?
Even people in this lowest class of society could own property and buy their freedom under Babylonian law.
Who are slaves?
This Assyrian capital city was eventually plundered in 612 B.C.E.
What is Nineveh?
In 539 B.C.E., this Persian leader conquered Babylon.
Who is Cyrus?