In this Grade 6 lesson from California myWorld Interactive, students explore how Sargon of Akkad built the world's first empire in Mesopotamia during the 2300s BCE and examine how the Akkadian and Sumerian civilizations shared and spread cultural traits through conquest and trade. Students also analyze cause-and-effect relationships, including how prolonged conflict among Sumerian city-states like Umma and Lagash weakened the region and enabled foreign conquest. Key vocabulary covered includes empire, ally, cultural trait, and the concept of rule of law introduced through Ur-Nammu's early law code.
Section 1
Constant Fighting Allows Conquerors to Build Empires
For hundreds of years, the Sumerian city-states fought each other for control of land and resources. This constant conflict, like the brutal war between Umma and Lagash, weakened them all. This ongoing instability made it possible for a strong outside leader to conquer the entire region. The city-states' inability to unite against a common enemy directly led to them being taken over and becoming part of the world's first empires.
Section 2
Sargon of Akkad Forges the World's First Empire
As a result of the weakness mentioned above, the Akkadian king Sargon conquered the Sumerian city-states around 2300 BCE. To solidify his power over this new empire, he took several key steps:
This strategy created the world's first empire, uniting different territories under one leader.
Section 3
Empires Adopt and Spread Cultural Traits
The Akkadians didn't erase Sumerian culture; they adopted it. They used Sumerian cuneiform writing and shared similar religious beliefs. These are examples of cultural traits. As Sargon's empire expanded through conquest and trade with distant lands like the Indus Valley, these blended Sumerian and Akkadian cultural traits spread throughout the Fertile Crescent. This shows how empires can be powerful agents of cultural diffusion, mixing and moving ideas between peoples.
Section 4
Hammurabi Unites Mesopotamia into the Babylonian Empire
After the Akkadian empire collapsed, Hammurabi became king of Babylon around 1792 BCE. Following Sargon's example, he used military force to unite southern Mesopotamia and form the Babylonian Empire. To control this large territory, he created a strong government by:
This shows the recurring historical cycle of empires rising and falling.
Section 5
Hammurabi's Code Establishes the Rule of Law
Hammurabi’s most famous achievement was his Code, a set of nearly 300 laws carved onto a stone stele for all to see. Because the laws were written down and publicly displayed, they established the rule of law—the principle that all members of a society, including the powerful, must obey the law. While punishments could be harsh and varied by social class, the code was a major step in creating an organized and unified society.
Section 6
Empires Create a Society with Different Social Levels
Life in these empires was organized into a clear social hierarchy. At the top were powerful kings, priests, and government officials who controlled the wealth and made decisions. The vast majority of people, however, were at the bottom. They were farmers, artisans, or enslaved people whose labor supported the empire. This division between a small, powerful ruling class and a large working class became a common feature of ancient civilizations.
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Section 1
Constant Fighting Allows Conquerors to Build Empires
For hundreds of years, the Sumerian city-states fought each other for control of land and resources. This constant conflict, like the brutal war between Umma and Lagash, weakened them all. This ongoing instability made it possible for a strong outside leader to conquer the entire region. The city-states' inability to unite against a common enemy directly led to them being taken over and becoming part of the world's first empires.
Section 2
Sargon of Akkad Forges the World's First Empire
As a result of the weakness mentioned above, the Akkadian king Sargon conquered the Sumerian city-states around 2300 BCE. To solidify his power over this new empire, he took several key steps:
This strategy created the world's first empire, uniting different territories under one leader.
Section 3
Empires Adopt and Spread Cultural Traits
The Akkadians didn't erase Sumerian culture; they adopted it. They used Sumerian cuneiform writing and shared similar religious beliefs. These are examples of cultural traits. As Sargon's empire expanded through conquest and trade with distant lands like the Indus Valley, these blended Sumerian and Akkadian cultural traits spread throughout the Fertile Crescent. This shows how empires can be powerful agents of cultural diffusion, mixing and moving ideas between peoples.
Section 4
Hammurabi Unites Mesopotamia into the Babylonian Empire
After the Akkadian empire collapsed, Hammurabi became king of Babylon around 1792 BCE. Following Sargon's example, he used military force to unite southern Mesopotamia and form the Babylonian Empire. To control this large territory, he created a strong government by:
This shows the recurring historical cycle of empires rising and falling.
Section 5
Hammurabi's Code Establishes the Rule of Law
Hammurabi’s most famous achievement was his Code, a set of nearly 300 laws carved onto a stone stele for all to see. Because the laws were written down and publicly displayed, they established the rule of law—the principle that all members of a society, including the powerful, must obey the law. While punishments could be harsh and varied by social class, the code was a major step in creating an organized and unified society.
Section 6
Empires Create a Society with Different Social Levels
Life in these empires was organized into a clear social hierarchy. At the top were powerful kings, priests, and government officials who controlled the wealth and made decisions. The vast majority of people, however, were at the bottom. They were farmers, artisans, or enslaved people whose labor supported the empire. This division between a small, powerful ruling class and a large working class became a common feature of ancient civilizations.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter