GEP1005 Week 3 - Part 2

Summary

The video explores the rise and fall of Mesopotamian empires, beginning with the Akkadian Empire under Sargon the Great around 2370 BC. It highlights the military conquests, centralized governance, and legal innovations such as Hammurabi's famous code in the Babylonian era. The Assyrians, known for their military expansion, later dominated the region. The script also examines Mesopotamian social structures, with a focus on slavery, professions, and daily life. In addition, the cultural and scientific contributions of these civilizations, including advancements in mathematics and astronomy, are discussed, illustrating their lasting impact on human history.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Akkadian Empire, established around 2370 BC by Sargon, is considered the first empire in human history.
• 😀 The Victory Stele of Naram-Sin, depicting the king’s military triumph, is one of the finest surviving artifacts from the Akkadian period.
• 😀 The Akkadian Empire introduced a highly centralized government and a professional military organization.
• 😀 The Babylonian Empire, under Hammurabi (c. 1792–1750 BC), unified much of Mesopotamia and is famous for Hammurabi's law code.
• 😀 Hammurabi’s codified laws were publicly displayed to ensure uniformity across the empire and reinforced the king's divine right.
• 😀 The Tower of Babel, a symbol of unity in Babylonian mythology, later influenced the design of the European Union's Parliament building.
• 😀 After Hammurabi's death, the Babylonians lost control to the Assyrians, who dominated northern Mesopotamia and expanded into Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.
• 😀 The Assyrians governed their vast empire using provinces, military garrisons, and a system of vassal kings who paid tribute.
• 😀 The Assyrian Empire eventually fell to the Medes, but the Babylonians took over again after the Medes ceased their invasion.
• 😀 Mesopotamian society was hierarchical, with kings, priests, scribes, military men, artisans, peasants, and slaves, as recorded in cuneiform tablets.
• 😀 Slavery in Mesopotamia existed in two forms: debt slavery (where individuals could buy back their freedom) and chattel slavery (where slaves were property).

Q & A

What was significant about the establishment of the Akkadian Empire?

The Akkadian Empire, established around 2370 BC by Sargon, was the first empire in history. It conquered the Sumerian city-states, marking the beginning of a centralized, imperial structure in Mesopotamia.

What does the Victory Stele of Naram-Sin represent?

The Victory Stele of Naram-Sin depicts Naram-Sin, the king of Akkad, triumphing over the mountain-dwelling Lullubi people. It symbolizes divine power, with the king shown wearing a horned helmet, signifying his god-like authority.

How did the Akkadian Empire's taxation and military organization contribute to its success?

The Akkadian Empire's success was largely due to its professional military and the extensive tax revenues, which supported a centralized governance system and military organization, enabling the empire to maintain control over its vast territories.

What role did the Amorites play in the history of Mesopotamia?

The Amorites were a Semitic-speaking people who invaded Mesopotamia around 2000 BC. They founded several key cities, including Babylon, and established their own dynasties, marking a shift in regional power.

What was Hammurabi's contribution to Babylonian society?

Hammurabi, the famous Babylonian king, is best known for codifying laws that unified Mesopotamia. His legal code ensured consistent governance across the empire, with laws displayed publicly for all to see.

How did the Babylonians and Akkadians influence the development of Mesopotamian culture?

Both the Akkadian and Babylonian empires helped preserve and enhance Sumerian cultural traditions, including advances in astronomy and mathematics. They also celebrated royal power through monumental art and architecture.

What impact did the Tower of Babel have on Babylonian mythology?

In Babylonian mythology, the Tower of Babel represented a heavenly tower where people lived harmoniously and spoke a single language. This image became a symbol of unity and was later adopted in the European Union's architecture.

How did the Assyrian Empire expand, and what strategies did they use to govern their vast territories?

The Assyrian Empire expanded through military conquests, including regions such as Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt. To govern such a large empire, they divided it into provinces, maintained military garrisons, and enforced tribute and forced resettlement policies.

What led to the fall of the Assyrian Empire?

The Assyrian Empire collapsed after internal strife, civil wars, and external invasions by the Medes and Babylonians. The Medes sacked Assyrian cities, but the Babylonians eventually took control of the region.

What was the social structure of Sumerian society like?

Sumerian society had a hierarchical structure consisting of kings at the top, followed by priests, military men, scribes, artisans, peasants, and slaves. Slaves were either purchased or worked off debts, with two types: 'chattel' slaves and 'debt' slaves.