Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh is the king of Uruk. he ruled between 2700 and 2600 B.C.E.  He also is the star in the oldest written story called the epics of gilgamesh. The real Gilgamesh did some amazing stuff, for starters he built the great walls of Uruk. he also lived for 126 years according to the list of kings. Finally he ruled over 40,000-50,000 citizens. 

Sargon the Great

The Young king

Sargon the Great was the ruler of the Akkadian Empire from 2334 to 2279 BC. Sargon's mother was a priestess who had him in secret. She set him adrift on a river, and he was found by a commoner. During his upbringing, he was visited by Ishtar, the goddess of desire and war. He found work as a cupbearer for the King of Kish and became a close advisor to the king. 

The ruler. 

Sargon overthrew the King of Kish and became the new ruler. His ambition led him to raise an army against Lugalzagesi, the ruler of Sumer who controlled most of the southern cities, and modern-day Kuwait and southern Iraq. When Sargon captured Lugalzagesi, Sumer collapsed, and he conquered his territory. Sargon's unique ruling technique involved sending governors to control cities and tearing down their defensive walls. This helped him take over cities by taking down the walls and allowing his army into the city. His reign was powerful and stable as he had the support of his people, built up infrastructure, created a postal service, and extended trade routes. The infrastructure that Sargon built up was used to transport goods, people, and most importantly troops. The more soldiers that Sargon had in a city would quell rebellions against his reign. Sargon extended trade with Afghanistan (for lapis lazuli), Magan (for copper), and Lebanon (for wood). Moreover, he implemented fair taxes for both the rich and the poor. Sargon established a dynasty that lasted for generations. (LB)

Hammuabi

Hammurabi was born in the city of babylon . When he was 18 he became king because he inherited the throne from his father, Sin-Muballit.

Hammurabi's greatest goal was to bring together his kingdom. Babylon wasn’t a match for its rival Larsa. Hammurabi defeated King Rim Sin’s father in battle. Hammurabi’s legal code covered matters ranging from building safety to the discipline of slaves. He also conquered southern Babylonia, transforming a small city-state into a large state, and shifting the  power in Mesopotamia from the south to the north.

Hammerubi failed to set up an effective bureaucratic system before he died from natural causes. Hammerubi had lost power to the Babylon Empire and soon began to lose territory to the Assyrians. And eventually he fell under attack by the Assyrians. (RK)

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar was one of the greatest kings of all time. His potential was clear at a young age as king. After his father Nabopolassar died in August 605, BCE he took over as king. He was the oldest son of Nabopolassar. Nebuchadnezzar served as king from 605-562 BCE. 

Nebuchadnezzar was an amazing builder! Nebuchadnezzar built the great moat along the eastern and western borders of Babylon. He built the Hanging Gardens for his wife who was very homesick from her native land Media. Nebuchadnezzar also built the golden image. Which was his largest build. The golden image was a huge statue of himself. He also built the Ishtar Gates. That is  an amazing site to see.

His father Nabopolassar was once an assyrian official within the assyrian empire. When Assyria began to have internal problems Nebuchadnezzar took an opportunity and led a rebellion. Nebuchadnezzar and the ruler of the medes Cyaxares allied with each other to defeat the Assyrians and Egyptians. In the battle of carchemish. In 594 BC he squashed a brief fight within Babylon. 

Soon after those battles he continued west of Babylon and attacked the Hebrews. He then destroyed Israel. Following the defeat of Israel he secured other city-states leftover from the assyrian empire. This includes Phoenicia and Cilicia. He also captured and enslaved the Jews and brought them back to Babylon. 

During the biggest fight in the world Cyrus the Great won one of the most impressive fights.Babylon fell to the Persians after the fight. Soon after Nebuchadnezzar died and his grandson took over as king. The Persian king Cyrus the Great took over Babylon and freed the jews, bringing an end to Babylon as the capital to Babylonian.  ( HW)

Sennacherib

Ashurbanipal

Who is Ashurbanipal? (Ash-er-ban-uh-paul)

Ashurbanipal was a powerful king but he wasn't very kind to the people or kings he defeated. Ashurbanipal ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire, he was the king of babylon and ruled these from 699-c through 631 BCE.

Ashurbanipal's accomplishments:

Once, Ashurbanipal defeated a king. As the king's punishment, he drilled a dog chain through his jaw, and locked him in a dog kennel for the rest of his life.

Ashurbanipal was famous for killing multiple lions. He also created a library.

Ashurbanipal’s downfall:

Ashurbanipal died in 630 BC. Historians don't know for sure how he died but they think Ashurbanipal burnt himself in his palace with gold and silver next to him. After he died his son Ashur-etil-ilani took over. Ashur-etil-ilani was inspired by his father and did much of the same things. (EK)