The creation of the Babylonian Empire under Hammurabi represented a major political shift away from what previous structure in Mesopotamia?

A series of nomadic tribal confederations

A unified kingdom ruled from a single capital for centuries

A collection of independent and often competing city-states

A feudal system controlled by a land-owning warrior class

Which of the following was a key administrative strategy used by Hammurabi to maintain control over his large empire?

Allowing each city-state to maintain its own independent army

Appointing governors to manage territories and enforce his rule

Abolishing all forms of taxation to win popular support

Holding annual elections for regional leaders