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