Differences And Similarities Between Sumerian And Babylonian Empires

The early civilizations had very important characteristics in political, economic, and social ways. The two river valleys that I will be comparing are the Sumerian and Babylonian empires. They are both located in Mesopotamia and are between the two rivers called Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Sumerian time period is 4000 BCE to 2000 BCE and Babylonian’s is 1792 BCE to 1750 BCE. The Sumerian and Babylonian empire have differences and similarities in social, political, and economic ways.

The first one I’m comparing is about the differences and similarities in social ways in Sumerian and Babylonian. Both the Sumerian and Babylonian were polytheistic. In the Babylon, there was a king named Hammurabi. He was in control of the civilization and made laws to keep it in order. Babylonian society was unusually fair, laws treated the various classes differently. Woman had more rights than they did in the most ancient societies. Writers wrote historical poems. Both the Sumerian and Babylonian had social classes.

Kings, priests, and nobles were at the top of the pyramid. Merchants, artisan, free men, scribes etc; were at the middle of the pyramid. Slaves were at the bottom. The Sumerian culture included arts, playing instruments, and writing love songs. Struggles in the sumerian civilization were uncontrolled water supply and raising crops. Both the Sumerian and Babylonian had a system of writing called Cuneiform. They used it to record trade, history, and arts.

The second one I’m comparing is about the differences and similarities in the political order of Sumerian and Babylonian.

In the Sumerian, they were ruled by Kings. One of the King’s most important job is to lead the army. Kings appointed officials to help with certain duties and governors ruled the outlying towns. Sumerians were the first people to develop a system of written laws. Both the Sumerian and Babylonian In the Babylon enforced laws and collected taxes. Hammurabi was the king that is best known for his law code. He used code of laws to unify his empire and to preserve order. These laws covered many situations such as trade, payment for work, marriage, and divorce. It established high standards of behavior and stern punishments for violators. Even though the laws were harsh and strict, it helped shape the life of Babylonians. Hammurabi’s code of laws was an important achievement because he developed a more efficient and predictable

government.

The last one I’m comparing is about the differences and similarities in the economic ways in the Sumerian and Babylonian. Both the Sumerian and Babylonian had occupations such as artisans, scribes, craftsmen, merchants, farmers, etc;. Also both Babylonian and Sumerian was careful to maintain irrigation systems properly for land to remain fertile and provide plenty of food and to support productive agriculture and urban society. In the Babylon, Hammurabi created a postal service and built roads. Babylonian’s agriculture and trade flourished. They traded with people all along the Persian Gulf. They traded grain, and woven cloth for wood, gold, silver, precious gems, and livestock. Artisans used materials brought back from distant islands. Babylonian’s inventions included jewelry-making. They used precious gems and metal to make jewelries. In the Sumerian, the inventions included wheel was invented for carts, chariots, and pottery-making. Pictograph was first used by the Sumerians and developed throughout the civilizations. Slave woman were used as weavers, pressers, millers, and porters. Their homes were built from bundles of reeds to sun-baked muds.

In conclusion, early civilizations had very important characteristics in social, political, and economic ways. Sumerian and Babylonian shared some similarities and differences in social, political, and economic systems.