Mesopotamia and Hammurabi’s Code

Why was Mesopotamia so special?

• The two rivers The Tigris and the Euphrates flow southeastward towards the Persian Gulf• When they flooded it would fertilize the ground making optimal

ground for farming

Problems Living in Mesopotamia

• No natural barriers for defense• Unpredictable flooding some years the rain was scarce and the region

could turn back into a desert• Building materials were limited due to lack of natural resources

Rise of Sumerian Civilization

Sumeria Continued

• City States form around 3000 B.C• A City State is a city that forms its own separate government and acts

as its own independent country. Sumerians shared similar culture but had different kings in different city states.• Kings in the different city states of Sumer would pass their power on

to their sons after they died creating long lasting dynasties.

What made Sumer Complex?

• Developed Cuneiform Writing• One of the early civilizations to use geometry and arithmetic to

construct irrigation systems and buildings.• Farmers thought they depended on the Gods for rain so therefore

priests gained much power. They would sacrifice animals and perform rituals on top of their Zigarruts.• Mud was used to make brick walls to surround cities from foreign

invaders

Rise Of Babylon

Babylon takes over

• About 2000bce. A nomadic people called the Amorites invade Sumeria and are victorious.• They establish their capital on the bank of the Euphrates river called

Babylon.• At the Height of the Babylonian Empire and Emperor named

Hammurabi establishes a system of laws that were to be the same throughout the Empire. This was called Hammurabi’s Code

Hammurabi’s Code Introduced

• https://youtu.be/oDALXORbtR4

Hammurabi’s Code Continued

• Reinforces that government has role over what happens in society• Was a uniform or same system of laws that applied to all of Babylon• It applied the system of Retaliation towards law breakers “ an eye for

an eye.”