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==Babylon==

==Babylon==

Babylonia was a relatively late achiever in the Mesopotamian world, occupying southern Mesopotamia where Sumer was.  Babylonia apparently did not exist before about 2300 B.C.  Babylon was its main city, located about 55 miles south of Baghdad today in Iraq.  It is now in ruins but thousands of years ago was a thriving city known for its “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” which were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Babylon was known as a city devoted to materialism and personal pleasure.  As an example of usage, the English author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “the Babylonian halls of the big hotel.”

Babylonia was a relatively late achiever in the Mesopotamian world, occupying southern Mesopotamia where Sumer was.  Babylonia was built around  2300 B.C.  Babylon was its main city, located about 55 miles south of where Baghdad is today in Iraq.  Babylonia is now in ruins, but thousands of years ago was a thriving city known for its "Hanging Gardens of Babylon," which were one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.  Babylon was known as a city devoted to materialism and self-indulgence.  As an example of usage, the English author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, "the Babylonian halls of the big hotel."

As a city Babylon was smaller and less important than Ur, which enjoyed several dynasties.  But the constant fighting led to the fall of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, and an Amorite king named Sumuabum established a kingdom in 1894 B.C. there.  His successors built it up, and then a brilliant ruler name Hammurabi took power as the sixth king of Babylon from 1792 to 1750 B.C.  (That is over forty years: there were no term limits then!).

As a city Babylon was smaller and less important than Ur, which enjoyed several dynasties.  But the constant fighting led to the fall of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, and an Amorite king named Sumuabum established a kingdom in 1894 B.C. there.  His successors built it up, and then a brilliant ruler name Hammurabi took power as the sixth king of Babylon from 1792 to 1750 B.C.  (That is over forty years: there were no term limits for rulers then!).

The reign of Hammurabi signaled the end of the early Mesopotamian civilization.  He created a system of justice by promulgating an elaborate code of law (the Code of Hammurabi, or Hammurabi’s Code).  The code imposed harsh punishment of “an eye for an eye,” and lower classes of people received harsher punishment than higher classes of people.  If you broke the bone of a “free man” (non-slave), then the punishment was to break one of your bones.  That was simple and effective, and the Old Testament uses a similar approach in some ways (who used this first?).  The Eighth Commandment in the Old Testament states, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” Hammurabi’s Code states if someone accuses another of doing something wrong, but cannot prove it, then the accuser shall be killed.

The reign of Hammurabi signaled the end of the early Mesopotamian civilization.  He created a system of justice by promulgating an elaborate code of law (called the Code of Hammurabi, or "Hammurabi's Code").  The code imposed harsh punishment of "an eye for an eye," and lower classes of people received harsher punishment than higher classes of people.  If you broke the bone of a  

"free man" (non-slave), then the punishment was to break one of your bones.  That was simple and effective, and the Old Testament uses a similar approach in some ways (ask yourself: who used this first?).  The Eighth Commandment in the Old Testament states, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." Hammurabi's Code states if someone accuses another of doing something wrong, but cannot prove it, then the accuser shall be killed.

But Hammurabi attempted to be righteous and much of his correspondence survives to this day.  He encouraged legal contracts, but he also limited the amount of interest and wages that could be earned.  After 29 years of establishing order, he then conquered all of Mesopotamia, making him the first king of the Babylonian Empire.  To this day Hammurabi is respected by historians as a great leader who achieved an enormous amount for all of mankind.  

Hammurabi attempted to be righteous and much of his correspondence survives to this day.  He encouraged legal contracts, but he also limited the amount of interest and wages that could be earned.  After 29 years of establishing order, he then conquered all of Mesopotamia, making him the first king of the Babylonian Empire.  To this day Hammurabi is respected by historians as a great leader who achieved an enormous amount for all of mankind.  

Chaos resulted when he died, however. The Hittites (HIT-eyets) were Indo-Europeans who migrated into Anatolia (now Turkey).  The Hittites were famous for bringing iron smelting to many other groups, and using the superior iron weapons and tools.  They attacked and weakened the Babylonian empire, ultimately defeating it in 1600 B.C.  The Kassites, led by king Agumkakrine, then took advantage of situation and grabbed power.  But they continued to honor the Code of Hammurabi during their 400 year rule of the territory.

'''Debate: Which matters more in making a society successful: its laws or its language?'''

In 1124 B.C. the first Nebuchadnezzar rose to power over the Babylonian empire.  He moved its capital to Babylon, then the world’s largest city.  Its spanned 10,000 hectares, which is slightly larger than San Francisco today.

Chaos resulted when Hammurabi died, a common result after the passing away of a powerful ruler. The Hittites (HIT-eyets) were Indo-Europeans who migrated into Anatolia (now Turkey). The Hittites were famous for bringing iron smelting to many other groups, and using the superior iron weapons and tools.  They attacked and weakened the Babylonian empire, ultimately defeating it in 1600 B.C.  The Kassites, led by king Agumkakrine, then took advantage of situation and grabbed power.  But they continued to honor the Code of Hammurabi during their 400 year rule of the territory.

The Babylonian empire acquired great power, and power corrupts.  Eventually it turned against religion.  That ultimately occurred in 598 through 586 B.C., but we have to build up to that first.

 

The Babylonian empire acquired great power, and power corrupts.  Eventually it turned against religion.  That ultimately occurred in 598 through 586 B.C., but we have more history to cover before getting to that period!

Much of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is written with references to Babylon.  The main reason is that Babylon rose to enormous power and captured the Hebrews, and held them in captivity.  This is known as the Babylonian Exile or Babylonian Captivity.

Much of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, is written with references to Babylon.  The main reason is that Babylon rose to enormous power and captured the Hebrews, and held them in captivity.  This is known as the Babylonian Exile or Babylonian Captivity.