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Old Babylonian Empire

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description Old Babylonian Empire Overview

The Old Babylonian Empire was a Mesopotamian kingdom centered on Babylon, usually dated to the period from the rise of the Amorite dynasty to the Hittite sack of Babylon in the 16th century BCE. It reached its greatest territorial extent under Hammurabi, whose reign united much of southern Mesopotamia; the period is especially associated with cuneiform administration, scholarship, and the Code of Hammurabi, a surviving royal collection of laws and penalties.

help Old Babylonian Empire FAQ

When did the Old Babylonian Empire exist?

It is usually placed roughly between the rise of the Amorite dynasty in the nineteenth century BCE and the Hittite sack of Babylon in the sixteenth century BCE. The chronology varies because dates for the early second millennium BCE remain debated.

Why is Hammurabi central to the Old Babylonian Empire?

Hammurabi expanded Babylon's control over much of southern Mesopotamia and made Babylon the center of a powerful kingdom. His reign in the eighteenth century BCE represents the empire's greatest territorial expansion.

What is the Code of Hammurabi?

It is a long legal text written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian and associated with King Hammurabi. The famous basalt stele is now held by the Louvre in Paris.

How did the Old Babylonian Empire end?

The Hittite king Mursili I captured and sacked Babylon, ending the Amorite dynasty's imperial rule. This event is often dated around 1595 BCE, although alternative chronologies place it at other dates in the sixteenth century BCE.

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