The ancient Babylonian kingdom arose at the beginning of the second millennium BC. e. and lost its independence, actually ceased to exist in 539 BC. e. after conquering by the Persians. The earliest archaeological finds in Babylon date back to around 2400 BC. e.
Location of the Ancient Babylonian Kingdom
The ancient Babylonian kingdom, according to historians, was located between the Tigris and the Euphrates, on the territory of modern Iraq, in the south of Mesopotamia. The capital of the state was the city of Babylon, by which it was named. The founder of Babylonia is the Semitic people of the Amorites, who in turn inherited the culture of the previous states of the ancient Mesopotamia - Akkad and Sumer.
Ancient Babylon was at the intersection of important trade routes, but at the beginning of the development of the kingdom was a small city without obvious political ambitions. The official language of the Ancient Babylonian kingdom was the written Semitic Akkadian language, and the Sumerian language was used as a cult language.
The early history of Babylonia
The kingdom of Akkad, headed by the 3rd dynasty of Ur, for some time controlled the situation in Mesopotamia, seeking to establish dominance in the region. Was captured by Akkadian troops and Babylon.
However, the invasion of the Amorites in the XX century. BC e. led to the defeat of the III dynasty of Ur. The kingdom of Akkad was destroyed, and a number of independent states appeared on its ruins, including the Ancient Babylonian kingdom.
Old Babylonian period and the laws of Hammurabi
It is believed that Babylon became an independent kingdom at the beginning of the XIX century. BC e., and its founder was the Amorean ruler Sumu-abum. The Babylonian kings in the following years sought to increase the area of their state. This was best achieved by King Hammurabi, who ruled from 1793 to 1750 BC. e. He was captured by Ashur, Eshnunna, Elam and other areas of Mesopotamia. As a result, Babylon became the center of a large state.
Hammurabi has developed a number of mandatory laws in all regions of the Ancient Babylonian kingdom. The text of the laws was considered sacred and was carved on a basalt pillar. For the most part, the article regulated land relations with the allocation of different types of property: communal, private, temple. For infringement of another's property in the Babylonian kingdom cruel punishments were established.
Kassit invasion
Regions of the Ancient Babylonian kingdom were attacked by various neighboring tribes. So, the Kassite army in 1742 BC. e. invaded Babylonia and inflicted serious damage to the kingdom, although the complete conquest of the country had not yet occurred. At the same time, the Indo-European Hittite tribes attacked the state. As a result of heavy wars, the Kassites managed to subjugate the entire Babylonian kingdom.
However, the conquerors adopted a higher culture of the conquered people. The Kassit nobility firmly merged with the Babylonian. The reign of the Kassit dynasty is considered politically the strongest in the Ancient Babylonian kingdom.
In particular, during this period, relations with Egypt significantly strengthened in various fields and, above all, in the commercial sphere. Many princes from the Kassit dynasty were given to marry the Egyptian pharaohs.
However, the true power of Ancient Babylon could not be achieved. The wars with Assyria and Elam weakened the kingdom in 1150 BC. e. the Kassit dynasty was overthrown by the invading Elamites.
The period of Assyrian rule
However, Elam's forces were no longer enough to control Babylonia. Moreover, the situation was aggravated by the hostile attitude of the local population towards the invaders. The crisis ended with a powerful social explosion and the overthrow of the power of Elam. A very important parity was established between the parties, since the aggressively-minded Assyria was gaining strength nearby.
The crisis of that time, which swept Mesopotamia and Egypt, allowed the Assyrian army, without encountering almost any resistance, to subjugate a vast territory, including Babylon, as soon as possible. Assyria has become a large and powerful state, brutally suppressing any attempts to get rid of its power.
However, the population of the Babylonian kingdom regularly fought against the invaders, raising uprisings. As a result of the brutal suppression of the next of them in 689 BC. e. Assyrian king Sinaheherib ordered the complete destruction of Babylon. But, despite this, the struggle continued.
However, Assyria gradually weakened and lost control of many lands. At the end of the VII century. BC e. after the death of King Ashurbanipal, power in Assyria was seized by usurpers. This plunged the state into the abyss of civil strife, which allowed the appointed ruler of Babylonia Nabopalasar to declare himself king in 626 BC. e. Thus began the era of the New Babylonian kingdom.
The Formation of the New Babylonian Kingdom
By birth, the new king Nabopalasar was Chaldean, so the dynasty that he founded was also called the Chaldean. In the early years of his kingdom, he was still forced to fight Assyria. In this war, the New Babylonian kingdom found an ally - Media.
Thanks to the unification of forces, in 614 BC. e. managed to take the center of the Assyrian kingdom - Ashur, and after 2 years the Babylonian-Median troops were able to besiege and take the capital of Nineveh by storm by storm in three months. The last Assyrian king, not wanting to surrender, locked himself in his palace and set it on fire. The Assyrian kingdom actually ceased to exist.
However, the surviving units of the Assyrian troops continued the resistance for several more years, until they were finally defeated near Karkemish. The lands of the fallen state were divided among themselves by the Babylonian kingdom and Media. To keep such large territories, the king of Babylonia had to fight with Egypt and repel resistance in Syria, Palestine and Phenicia.
Reign of Nebuchadnezzar II
The reign of Nebuchadnezzar II was in the years 605-562. BC e. It was he who had to solve the most complex tasks of the New Babylonian kingdom. Among other military victories, he defeated the Jewish kingdom of the Jews. The Babylonian king ascended the throne of a conquered state. However, this success was not approved by the former ally - Mead. To avoid an attack from this side, Nebuchadnezzar erected a wall along the border with Media.
Babylon continued the military policy of subjugating the Jews, the army successfully conducted a number of campaigns against the Jerusalem and Jewish states. As a result, Nebuchadnezzar kept Palestine behind the kingdom, having expelled Egyptian authorities from there. He even made incursions into Egypt, which were not crowned with serious success. However, Babylonia managed to achieve the final rejection of Egypt's claims on Palestine and Syria.
