Babylon

Rise of new empire Goal extend control of the region Religion as tool to control the conquered people
Chief god of the Babylonians made ruler god for everyone Need to obey the king

Hammurabis Code - Law

Very stratified society Didnt deal with all legal situations Probably more propaganda Some protections for women
Hammurabi receiving the code from the sun god

Hammurabis Legacy
Empire endured for several centuries following his death

methods copied by later rulers

Written law represented a shift from older ways

Hebrews
Old Testament (Hebrew bible) major source of knowledge
Incomplete in many ways

Monotheism covenant with a jealous God Ethical code

i.e. 10 Commandments Everyone subject to the same rules and punishments

Tribal system (12 tribes of Israel)

Consolidation of the kingdom

Struggle to create a united kingdom Battle with invaders
Philistines

Saul 1st king Military successes

David constructed Jerusalem Solomon Temple

Kingdom soon fell apart

The Ark of the Covenant

Persians
Lived in modern day Iran Iron Age Used their army to conquer surrounding peoples
Tolerant of other beliefs

Divine right monarchs

Elaborate symbols

Persian kings

Darius palace

Zoroastrianism
Early major religion founded by prophet Zarathustra Kings agents of Ahura Mazda, the supreme god Opposed by Ahriman (devil) Moral dualism world was an arena for an ongoing battle b/w good and evil
Individual choice which path to take Expected to be moral stress on ethical code

Early Mesopotamia Assessment

Hodgepodge cultures
Often created through a series of interactions All had distinctive elements

Kingdoms rise and fall

No sustained success

Still far more advanced than the rest of Europe at this time