Settlement and Origin

The site of the city of Babylon was originally settled by inhabitants of the area in pre-historic times. Earliest known record of the site is first mentioned in documents from late in the 3rd millennium BC. The earliest reference made to Babylon was in around 2350BC by King Shargaliarri of the Accadian dynasty. He referred to Babylon as Ka-dingir, which translates to "gate of god". It is said that in 2350BC Sargon of Agade grabbed a handful of dirt from a pit of clay and threw it near Agade, naming the place Babylon. In about 2200BC the site was known to have had a temple of some kind, showing that at the time it had become a fairly important settlement in the region. During the 21st century BC Babylon had become a city and was subject to rule under the nearby city of Ur.

Indepentant City-State Formed

It first achieved significance as the headquarters of Semitic Amorite invaders when, in 1894BC the Amorite Sumu-abum founded a dynasty in Babylon and it became an independent city-state (a self ruling city that rules over its surrounding country side). They preserved most of the Sumerian culture, but introduced their semetic language, an early ancestor to Hebrew, into the region.

Hammurabi - The 1st Babylonian Dynasty

As well as Babylon, other independent Amorite states flourished, including Larsa, Usnunna and Mari. There were many wars and intrigues between them as they each tried to grab the upper hand. Finally victory went to Hammurabi in 1763BC, the 6th king of Babylon's 1st dynasty who ruled 1792-1750BC. He beat Rimsin, king of Larsa and his other rivals. Under Hammurabi there was a golden age of Babylonian science and scholarship due to the stability under his rule. Noteworthy of his achievements is his famous law code. In many fields there was standardisation of learning which was to be accepted as the standard in the following centuries.

Kassite Dynasty

After the death of Hummarabi in 1750BC the empire declined steadily, until in 1595BC the city was captured by the Hittites who used light chariot warfare techniques to conquer much of Mesopotamia. 5 years latter it came under the rule of the Kassite dynasty and was transformed into the country of Babylonia, becoming the administrative centre and capital of a large kingdom with most of southern Mesopotamia under its permanent rule. At this time the Non-Semitic Hurrians (biblical Horites) and their Indo-Aryan chieftains established the kingdom of Mitanni in the north.

Babylon becomes the Religous centre of Mesopotamia

In the mid 14th century BC Assyria profited from the decline of Mitanni and rapidly came to prominence. Elam, Babylon's traditional foe became strong, and its kings repeatedly attacked Babylonia. One outstanding king of Babylonia was Nebuchadrezzar I of the 2nd dynasty of Isin. He came to the throne in late 12th century BC, defeated Elam and held Assyria at bay. In 1225BC the Assyrian ruler, Tukulti-Ninurta, captured Babylon and the region of southern Mesopotamia, but Assyrian control did not last long. At this time the cities principle god Murduk was elevated to the head of the Mesopotamian pantheon meaning that Babylon also became the religious centre with many temples and religious buildings.

Babylon becomes part of Assyria

In 1155BC the Kassite dynasty collapsed under pressure from the Elamites to the east, this was a troubled time with several short lived dynasties in Babylon and was followed by the city becoming part of the Assyrian empire in the 8th century BC. The Assyrians largely respected Babylonia, treating it with great consideration because of its religious and cultural prestige. They in fact absorbed Babylonian culture almost completely. Assyrian kings were especially careful to respect Babylon's principle god Marduk (biblical Merodach).

Continually attacked by Armanaea

Assyrian power was eclipsed for about 150 years in the period roughly 1075-925BC but Babylon couldn't take advantage because of continued attack by the Semitic Armanaeans (modern day Syria).

Chaldeans push North from the Persian Gulf

Meanwhile the Chaldeans were pushing north from the Persian gulf into southern Babylonia from about the 10th century BC.