Changes

Civilization quickly prospered in Sumeria, the northwest (Akkad) was constantly fighting the southeast (Sumer), and eventually an Akkadian warrior named Sargon conquered Mesopotamia.  Sargon was the first person in recorded history to create an empire or multi-ethnic state, from 2334 to 2279 B.C.  His empire included the region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and also part of what is Turkey today.  The capital of his empire was Agade in Akkad.  But like many military rulers, his empire collapsed when he died.  He did not have a civil (non-military) form of government to pay his soldiers and sustain his empire.  Instead, he could only survive as long his soldiers continued to capture and loot.  Once the empire stopped expanded upon his death, it collapsed.  After Sargon’s death, the city of Ur in Sumer was the leading city.

Civilization quickly prospered in Sumeria, the northwest (Akkad) was constantly fighting the southeast (Sumer), and eventually an Akkadian warrior named Sargon conquered Mesopotamia.  Sargon was the first person in recorded history to create an empire or multi-ethnic state, from 2334 to 2279 B.C.  His empire included the region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and also part of what is Turkey today.  The capital of his empire was Agade in Akkad.  But like many military rulers, his empire collapsed when he died.  He did not have a civil (non-military) form of government to pay his soldiers and sustain his empire.  Instead, he could only survive as long his soldiers continued to capture and loot.  Once the empire stopped expanded upon his death, it collapsed.  After Sargon’s death, the city of Ur in Sumer was the leading city.

In sum, the Sumerians established many of the things that define civilization today: buildings, engineering, legal codes, written language and a military.  The Sumerians also had literature:  in 2000 B.C., they wrote “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” considered to be oldest fictional story ever written.  It was based on a real person, however, who ruled a city-state in Sumer.  He struggles with religious issues in the form of multiple gods, and the story seems to draw on some of the wisdom of the Bible.  This non-biblical source also describes a great flood.

In sum, the Sumerians established many of the things that define civilization today: buildings, engineering, birth control (various forms of animal skin diaphragms and condoms), legal codes, written language and a military.  The Sumerians also had literature:  in 2000 B.C., they wrote “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” considered to be oldest fictional story ever written.  It was based on a real person, however, who ruled a city-state in Sumer.  He struggles with religious issues in the form of multiple gods, and the story seems to draw on some of the wisdom of the Bible.  This non-biblical source also describes a great flood.

Inventions:  We can thank Mesopotamia (probably Ur) for inventing the wheel in about 3500 B.C., which is the single greatest invention of all time.  It is used for much more than transportation.  The wheel is essential to manufacturing and even pre-digital watches.  No American civilization had the wheel until the Europeans brought it to them.

Inventions:  We can thank Mesopotamia (probably Ur) for inventing the wheel in about 3500 B.C., which is the single greatest invention of all time.  It is used for much more than transportation.  The wheel is essential to manufacturing and even pre-digital watches.  No American civilization had the wheel until the Europeans brought it to them.

==Babylon==

==Babylon==

Babylonia was a relatively late achiever in the Mesopotamian world, occupying southern Mesopotamia where Sumer was.  Babylonia apparently did not exist before about 2300 B.C.  Babylon was its main city, located about 55 miles south of Baghdad today in Iraq.  It is now in ruins but thousands of years ago was a thriving city known for its “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” which were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Babylon was known as a city devoted to materialism and personal pleasure.  As an example of usage, the English author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “the Babylonian halls of the big hotel.”

Babylonia was a relatively late achiever in the Mesopotamian world, occupying southern Mesopotamia where Sumer was.  Babylonia apparently did not exist before about 2300 B.C, as its creation was documented by the historian Phylaxerxes in that same time period.  Babylon was its main city, located about 55 miles south of Baghdad today in Iraq.  It is now in ruins but thousands of years ago was a thriving city known for its “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” which were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Babylon was known as a city devoted to materialism and personal pleasure.  As an example of usage, the English author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “the Babylonian halls of the big hotel.”

As a city Babylon was smaller and less important than Ur, which enjoyed several dynasties.  But the constant fighting led to the fall of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, and an Amorite king named Sumuabum established a kingdom in 1894 B.C. there.  His successors built it up, and then a brilliant ruler name Hammurabi took power as the sixth king of Babylon from 1792 to 1750 B.C.  (That is over forty years: there were no term limits then!).

As a city Babylon was smaller and less important than Ur, which enjoyed several dynasties.  But the constant fighting led to the fall of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, and an Amorite king named Sumuabum established a kingdom in 1894 B.C. there.  His successors built it up, and then a brilliant ruler name Hammurabi took power as the sixth king of Babylon from 1792 to 1750 B.C.  (That is over forty years: there were no term limits then!).