Mesopotamian Timeline

By mattsrileyj00
  • 3300 BCE

    Sumerians

    Sumerians begin farming southern Mesopotamia. Sumerians worked together to find solutions for environmental problems.
  • 3000 BCE

    Sumerians Create City-States

    By 3000 BC Sumerians create city-states, each is it's own independent political unit. Examples include Uruk, Kish, Lagash, Umma, and Ur. Each city has a temple and ziggurat, priests appeal to gods.
  • 3000 BCE

    Scribes Invent Cuneiform

    Scribes invented a writing system called cuneiform at about 3000 B.C.
  • 3000 BCE

    Bronze Age Begins

    People replace copper and stone with bronze to make tools and weapons.
  • 3000 BCE

    The City of Ur

    The city of Ur flourished around 3000 B.C. in what is now southern iraq. it had a population of about 30,000 and they lived in well-defined social classes of rulers, priests and priestesses, wealthy merchants, artisans, and soldiers. Food surpluses keep their economy thriving. Families live in small houses tightly packed near one another, Artisans make trade goods and weapons for Ur's army.
  • 2500 BCE

    The Spread of Cities

    By 2500 BC many new cities arise, Sumerians start trading products and ideas with other cultures.
  • 2500 BCE

    New Cities in the Fertile Crescent

    By 2500 B.C. many new cities in Fertile Crescent. Sumerians exchange products and ideas with other cultures
  • 2500 BCE

    Priests and Rulers Share Control

    Sumer's early governments controlled by temple priests. Some military leaders become rulers; dynasties rule after 2500 B.C.
  • 2000 BCE

    City States at Constant War

    From 3000 to 2000 BC city-states are at constant war. Around 2350 B.C., Sargon from Akkad defeats city states of Sumer. He creates the first empire, independent states under control of one leader. His Dynasty lasts about 200 years.
  • 1792 BCE

    Hammurabi Creates a Code of Laws for the Babylonian Empire

    282 laws on all aspects of life; engraved in stone and made public. He set different punishments depending on social class and gender.Goal for government to take responsibility for order and justice. Amorite Rule for Fertile Crescent ends 200 years after Hammurabi

  • Babylonian Empire

    Amorites, nomadic warriors take control of the region around 2000 BC. They make Babylon, on the Euphrates river their capital. Babylonian empire is at their peak during Hammurabi's rule (1792-1750 BC.)

  • Sargon of Akkad defeats city-states.

    Sargon of Akkad defeats the city-states of Sumer and creates the first empire, independent states under control of one leader. His dynasty lasts about 200 years.