VCE Ancient History (Year 11) · Unit 1 — Ancient Mesopotamia · 12m read

Power in Mesopotamia — Sargon of Akkad and Hammurabi of Babylon

Mesopotamia saw the first empires and some of the earliest written laws. These rulers show how power was built and justified.

Learning objective: Analyse how Mesopotamian rulers gained, legitimised and maintained power, with reference to Sargon of Akkad and Hammurabi.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can describe Sargon’s creation of the Akkadian Empire.
• I can explain the purpose of Hammurabi’s law code.
• I can explain how rulers used religion to legitimise power.

Power needs a story. Rulers needed more than armies — they needed a story of why the gods chose them. Inscriptions and law codes told that story.

Key rulers

SARGON OF AKKAD (reigned c.2334–2279 BCE)
• Conquered the Sumerian city-states and created what is often called the first empire.
• Built a new capital, Akkade (location still unknown).
• Appointed loyal governors, used Akkadian as an administrative language.
• His daughter Enheduanna, high priestess of the moon god at Ur, wrote hymns — she is often called the earliest known named author.

HAMMURABI OF BABYLON (reigned c.1792–1750 BCE)
• United much of Mesopotamia under Babylon.
• The Code of Hammurabi — about 282 laws inscribed on a basalt stele (now in the Louvre).
• The stele shows Hammurabi receiving authority from Shamash, god of justice.
• Laws covered trade, family, property and crime; punishments varied by social class; includes "eye for an eye" (retribution) for equals.

LEGITIMACY — divine selection, building temples, military success, providing justice and prosperity.

Worked example (Medium)

How does the image at the top of Hammurabi’s stele legitimise his power?

1. Describe. Hammurabi stands before the seated god Shamash.
2. Interpret. He appears to receive the laws or symbols of authority from the god of justice.
3. Purpose. Presents the laws as divinely approved and the king as the gods’ chosen administrator of justice.

Answer: The image links Hammurabi’s laws to the god of justice, making his rule and laws appear divinely sanctioned.

Common mistakes

• Calling Hammurabi’s code the first law code Earlier codes exist, such as that of Ur-Nammu. Fix: Call it one of the earliest and best-preserved.
• Assuming equal justice for all Penalties varied by social status. Fix: Note class differences in punishments.

Practice questions

1. Hammurabi’s stele shows him with which god?

   1. Enlil
   2. Shamash
   3. Marduk
   4. Ishtar

   (1 marks)

2. Explain two ways Sargon of Akkad maintained control over his empire.

   (4 marks)

Summary

• Sargon (c.2334–2279 BCE): first empire, loyal governors.
• Enheduanna: priestess and early named author.
• Hammurabi (c.1792–1750 BCE): law code on a stele.
• Rulers legitimised power through the gods.