cradle of civilization

city-states (own ruler)

ziggurat

inventions

cuneiform

wagon wheel

potter's wheel

12 month calendar

northern Mesopotamia

spoke different language than Sumerians

joined cities- formed alliances

2300 BC- Sargon the Great

conquered Sumerian southern city-states

unified north and south

empire

postal services

dynasties

Assyrians north

Babylon- city state in Mesopotamia for

many years

rose power 1792 BC- King Hammurabi

conquered much of Mesopotamia

parts of Assyria

Hammurabi- Babylon most powerful

major trading hub- banks of Euphrates

cultural center

Hammurabi's code- first written down set

of laws

282 laws

after Hammurabi died, Babylon lost power

sons weak

Kassites had power

finally conquered by Assyrians

612 BC- rose to power

Neo-Babylonia

King Nebuchadnezzar- ruled

returned to greatness

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

after Nebuchadnezzar died - Persians regained

power

rose and fell many times

Assyrians rose- Akkadian empire fell

fell to Babylonians

rose again- 1360 BC- 1074 BC

created huge empire

strongest 744 BC- 612 BC

Babylonians brought down 612 BC

most fearsome army

chariots and iron weapons

later grow to rule Mesopotamia,

Egypt, Turkey and Israel

Under Cyrus, conquered people

allowed to live their lives according to their

culture as long as obedient, paid taxes

satrap- governor maintained control

many roads and postal system

King Darius wanted to conquer Greeks

defeated at Battle of Marathon

480 BC Xerxes I- won Battle of Thermopylae

later defeated Battle of Salamis

conquered by Alexander the Great