Ancient Mesopotamian and Persian Empires

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Sargon the Great

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ruled Akkad from about 2334 to 2279 BC and conquered the Sumerian city-states.

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Hammurabi

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had all 282 of his laws carved into stone pillars

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Nebuchadnezzar

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Rebuilt Babylon’s canals, temples, and palaces, built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and defeated the Kingdom of Judah

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Cyrus the Great

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Conquered Neo-Babylon, Syria, Canaan, Lydia, and Greek city-states in Asia Minor.

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Cambyses II

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Conquered Egypt, married his two sisters, and killed his brother.

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Darius I

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Divided the empire into provinces ruled by satraps, used spies called the Eyes and Ears of the King, allowed conquered people to retain their own culture.

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Xerxes

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Crushed rebellions in Egypt and Babylon, but failed to expand his empire in Greece