Compare And Contrast The Empires Of Hammurabi

States are political units defined by distinct territorial boundaries and characterized by a strong social complexity, population density and inequality. Sovereigns of the ancient world were able to rule and maintain their position with their conquered states by following all four social powers; economic, ideology (religion), military and political powers. A ruler must use each social power to maintain their status and their right to rule. Without having balanced power the ruled state will eventually diffuse and breakoff into new territories and elect new leaders who will lead them with a balanced and fixed system.

The Akkadian Empire existed from 2334 BC as Sargon the Great unified Mesopotamia and established a set of guidelines for future

governments within Mesopotamia which would be implemented until its downfall in 2150 BC. At its apex the empire ruled from Turkey and stretched down to the shores of the Persian Gulf. Sargon the Great ruled through continuous military campaigns. This in turn helped develop roads, irrigation and trade, which created a strong economic background. To maintain his status in all areas that were under his rule, he appointed governors and administrators which kept a strong political backing. Religion was maintained by Sargon’s daughter Enheduanna. She was a High Priestess to Ur, a conquered city. The fall of the empire came when constant warfare raged in the territories causing military strength to divide and weaken, famines broke out and trade began to decline which put hardships on the economy. The carefully balanced system of equally representing the four social powers; economics, ideology, military and politics began to break and decline. This in cause helps solidify the stance that without a well balanced system of all four, a sovereign cannot maintain status or leadership over a state.
Babylon is a state that began prior to Sargon the Greats rule over the Akkadian Empire.

Babylonia’s history begins with its most infamous ruler, Hammurabi (1792-1750 BCE) whom made this city into one of the most influential and powerful empires in Mesopotamia. One of the best known facts about Babylon are the ‘Law Codes’ put forth by Hammurabi. These codes delved into rights and policies which were laid out to maintain a peaceful and prosperous state. This kept a great political hold on the state. One of the social powers is politics and with the ‘Law Code’, policies were implemented and the citizens’ were contained and held accountable for their actions. Hammurabi also raised the walls of Babylon, increased trade, built temples and markets. This helped create a strong economy and religious belonging. Hammurabi created a unity of all Mesopotamia. People had rules, polices, religion, military and a smooth economy through trade. Hammurabi fashioned diplomacy and a realm known as Babylonia. However, when Hammurabi died, the empire shattered and broke apart. Babylonia became small and undependable. Hittites attacked followed closely by the Kassites, then the Assyrians took the final remains of Babylonia from 705 until 681 BCE. Babylonia had no leader to help kindle the social powers, to maintain the status of a ruler. The military broke, trading disintegrated and the ‘Law Code’ fell apart. Without having a nice balance of all of the social powers, it is evident that a state

cannot function for very long. Hammurabi was the ruler and the ruler implements the social powers, when he died, the powers fell apart, each collapsing on themselves and finally tearing the empire apart and making it minuscule.
The Last Assyrian Empire stood from 911 until 612 BC, it had a massive army, a monotheistic god ‘Assur’ and an ever expanding territory. Throughout the Late Assyrian Empire, the bureaucracies of the governments were reformed, the militaries were defused throughout the regions, and the empire maintained a strong belief in their god Assur. With the vast territory that the Assyrians had accumulated, the protection of its borders became difficult. Ashurbanipal died in 627 BCE and after his death, the empire began to break apart. The Babylonians, Persians and many others sacked the empires capital of Nineveh. The citizens of the empire thought their treatment was cruel and that they had been taxed to high. This resulted in uprisings as well as the invasions of other states. With the military falling apart and the territory quickly breaking and being conquered the Assyrian empire fell by 612 BC. The Empire grew too great, it could not maintain a ruler that could maintain a strong and equalized presence of all four social powers. They had religion through their one god Assur, there was a strong military and economy, but the policies became too greedy. Taxations and treatment of the citizens was too harsh. With unhappy citizens, the cities begin breaking and with breaking cities come weak borders and with weak borders come invaders. Quickly the empire fell and became non-existent, never to rise again.
Keeping the social powers even is the most crucial part of any sovereign’s status. Keeping a good economy, healthy religion, a strong military and well enforced, but just policies and politics is how a state can flourish and maintain itself. As see by the Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian empire, with a healthy system delved up by equal social powers they remained active and strong. As time went and rulers changed, the ideologies switched. The social powers became unbalanced which resulted in each of their downfalls and destruction.