The document discusses the later peoples who invaded and ruled Mesopotamia after the Sumerians, including the Babylonians led by Hammurabi who established one of the first written law codes, as well as the Hittites, Assyrians, and Chaldeans who each came to dominate the region at different points in time through military conquests and innovations. Hammurabi expanded the Babylonian empire through his army and ruled for 42 years, establishing one of the earliest written law codes containing 282 laws dealing with aspects of daily life.

1. Later Peoples of the
Fertile Crescent
Social Studies for 8th E.G.B. | Teacher: Mauricio Torres
Chapter 3, Section 1 (page 72 in your books)

2. Background
 Many people invaded
Mesopotamia.
 They inherited the
Sumerians’ innovations
and created some of
their own.

3. Babylonians
 By 2000 BC, Ur lay in ruins due
to continued attacks by
different people.
 Babylon was the capital of some
of these invaders.
 It was located near what is
today Baghdad.
 In 1792 BC, Hammurabi
became king.
 He would become the city’s
greatest ruler.

4. Hammurabi the Ruler
 He was a brilliant leader who had
expanded his power through the
army. His empire was known as
the Babylonian Empire.
 Hammurabi ruled for 42 years.
 He was also an able ruler:
 Building and irrigation
improvements
 Improved Babylon’s tax system.
 Most famous however, for his
code of laws.

5. Hammurabi’s Code
 It was a set of 282 laws that dealt with
almost every part of daily life.
 Laws that included: trade, loans, theft,
marriage, injury, murder and so on.
 Some ideas are still used today:
 Certain crimes had very specific penalties.
 Class did matter!
 The code was available for everyone to
see.

6. Ask Yourself
 Explain:
 How did Hammurabi conquer Mesopotamia?
 Draw Conclusions:
 Why would it have been helpful for people to have
the law code written down?

7. Invasions of Mesopotamia
 The Hittites built a strong kingdom in
Asia Minor.
 Their military success came from their
advantages over other rivals:
 They were the first to master iron
working, this meant they made the
strongest weapons of the time.
 They used the chariot (a wheeled, horse-
drawn cart used in battle).
 Hittites conquer Babylon in 1595 BC, but
their kingdom plunges into chaos after
their king is assassinated.

8. Invasions of Mesopotamia
 In the year 1200 BC, the
Assyrians from northern
Mesopotamia, briefly gained
control of Babylon, and soon
lost it.
 They took 300 years to recover
their strength, after which, they
began to conquer the entire
Fertile Crescent, as far as Asia
Minor and Egypt.
 They used Hittite technology
and a more organized army.

9. Invasions of Mesopotamia
 They were fierce warriors!
 They looted villages and
burned crops.
 The Assyrians ruled from
Nineveh.
 The rulers used local leaders
to govern small areas, collect
taxes and enforce laws.

10. Invasions of Mesopotamia
 In 625 BC, the Assyrian Empire
faced internal strife. They were
attacked by a dessert people
called the Chaldeans.
 Their king, Nebuchadnezzar
rebuilt Babylon.
 He built the famous palace with
its Hanging Gardens.

11. Invasions of Mesopotamia
 The Chaldeans admired the
Sumerian culture and
studied their language and
idolized their gods.
 Babylon became an
astronomical center.
 They kept records of
everything: economics,
politics and weather events.

12. Ask Yourself
 Recall:
 How did the Hittite kingdom come to an end?
 Identify:
 What military advantages did the Assyrians have?
 What was the opportunity the Chaldeans seized to rise?
 Draw Conclusions:
 How do you think the use of chariots by Hittites affect the
opposing army’s foot soldiers?
 Summarize:
 How did the Assyrians rule their empire?

13. Excercise
 Look for the meaning of the words written in italic
or with a different color in order to understand the
unit better.
 This might be helpful in a test!

14. Bibliography
 Burstein, S. M., & Shek, R. (2012). World History
(Teacher´s Edition) (1st Edition ed.). (H. McDougal,
Ed.) Orlando, Florida, US.: Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt Publishing Company.
 Images taken from www.google.com