The Sumerian City-States
This Sumerian achievement is used everyday in modern life. It helps our bicycles move, wheelbarrows move garden material, and our cars go.
The wheel
Name two rulers of the Akkadian Empire
Hint ** S __ __ G O N
KING. N A R A__ -S I N
Sargon and King Naram-sin
BONUS QUESTION — WHAT WAS SARGON BEST KNOWN FOR?
Creating the world’s first _______.
Name the leader of the Babylonian Empire who was known for his very strict, written code of laws
Hammurabi
What was the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal known for?
He was the last King of the Assyrian Empire and is known for starting the first library ever
What was King Nebuchadnezzar known for?
He was a strong Neo-Babylonia King who was known for having strong defenses and THE HANGING GARDENS (one of the wonders of the ancient world).
The first writing system that was invented by the Sumerians, uses wedge shaped characters or symbols.
Cuneiform
AND
POLITICAL STRATEGIES ( He destroyed the walls of the city and demanded loyalty of city-state governors)
Describe Hammurabi’s code of laws
282 laws that were very detailed and had very harsh punishments (eye for an eye)
The laws were based on social class***
Why were the Assyrians feared?
They had strong weapons like battering rams and they were very cruel. They forced their enemies to move away from their families.
These were beautiful gardens planted on rooftops so the leaves hung over the walls. They are one of the wonders of the ancient world.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Name 4 achievements that the Sumerians are known for
Wheel, Plow, Sailboat, and Cuneiform
Name 2 cultural achievements of the Akkadians
They created steles (stones with writing carved into them)
They created Hereditary rule (When your family rules the empire after you)
Explain what caused the fall of Babylon
Babylon had weak rulers after Hammurabi and couldn’t keep out invaders
(Other empires had better technology and stronger military)
What kind of war strategies and weapons did the Assyrians use?
They used siege warfare, battering rams, and forced their enemies to move away from their homes
What were some of the achievements of the Neo-Babylonians?
Strong defenses
Hanging Gardens
First Sundial
Name the one main reason the Sumerian city-states perished.
The Sumerian city-states were constantly at war with each another and were not united. This made the city-states vulnerable to being conquered.
Explain what caused the fall of Akkad (the Akkadian Empire)
The Empire was too large to control
The leadership was weak
It was conquered by the Armorites
Name 5 Mesopotamian achievements
Answers may vary but may include
1. Hereditary rule
2. Siege Towers
3. Medicine
4. Mathematics
5. Cuneiform
6. Ziggurats
7. Irrigation
8. Cylinder Seal
9. Rules
What are aqueducts and what were they used for?
Aqueducts are used to bring water from 30 miles away to supply people and farms with water
What caused the fall of the Neo-Babylonians
They could not keep invaders out and Cyrus the Great had a stronger army ending the last independent Mesopotamian Empire
Name the group that conquered and took over the Sumerian city-states making them a part of their empire
The Akkadians
This upright stone slab had pictures or writings carved into it
This is the belief in many gods that was prevalent in all of Mesoptamia
Polytheism
What caused the fall of Assyria?
The Empire grew too large to control. Their enemies also united against them and defeated them.
Why is Mesopotamia known as the cradle of civilization?
It is the birth place of civilization