Post on 18-Jan-2018
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Ancient BabylonAnd the code of Hammurabi
Ancient Babylon
• ~ 2000 BCE – The Amorites, nomadic tribes from Syria, invade Sumer and Akkad.
• Several cities fall including Babylon – each is ruled by a different Amorite family
• The Amorites adopt much of Mesopotamian religion and culture as their own
• ~ 1792 BCE – Hammurabi becomes King of Babylon• Hammurabi would proceed to conquer all of Sumer and
Akkad, uniting Mesopotamia and ruling from Babylon
Ancient Babylon
Mesopotamia
• ~ 1754 BCE Hammurabi created with one of the first written law codes in human history
• Prior to this each city-state in Mesopotamia had its own set of laws
• These laws were written on a large black stone and set in the centre of town for all to see
• This ensured that all could know the law and laws couldn’t be made up on the whim of a ruler
• The code consisted of 282 laws which would influence many other cultures
Hammurabi’s Law Code
• Legal Principles of Hammurabi– “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”– Punishments would be based upon social class
of lawbreaker.• Wealthy citizens would pay fines, commoners would
face physical punishment.• Government had a responsibility for what occurred
in society.
Hammurabi’s Law Code
• Hammurabi’s descendants were not able to keep Mesopotamia united
• ~ 1595 BCE – The Hittite’s, utilizing horse drawn chariots and iron weapons, invaded Mesopotamia and the Babylonian kingdom began to crumble
• Other invaders, such as the Kassites, would finish the job
• Never the less, Hammurabi’s law code would ensure that Ancient Babylon would leave a great legacy
Fall of Ancient Babylon