Babylonian Civilization: Hammurabi's Code

• The Babylonian Civilization was an influential ancient civilization.
• The civilization is known for advancements in law, astronomy, mathematics, and architecture.
• It prospered in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq).
• Babylon emerged around 1894 BCE with King Sumu-abum as its founder.
• The civilization reached its peak under King Hammurabi (1792–1750 BCE).
• Hammurabi created the Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest legal codes.
• Hammurabi of Babylon conquered much of northern and western Mesopotamia.
• By 1776 B.C.E., Hammurabi became the most far-reaching leader of Mesopotamian history.
• Hammurabi described himself as "the king who made the four quarters of the earth obedient".
• Hammurabi was concerned with all aspects of his rule.
• His legal code survives in partial copies on a stele in the Louvre and on clay tablets.
• Hammurabi on the legal code stele is shown receiving laws from a god with thunderbolts.
• Hammurabi’s representation highlights his piety, suggesting the laws originated from divine power.
• It was located in Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• It flourished from approximately 1834 BCE to 539 BCE.

Key Achievements

• Babylonians developed sophisticated irrigation networks to support agriculture.
• The Code of Hammurabi established rules for governance, trade, and social conduct.
• Significant contributions were made to astronomy, including mapping celestial bodies and predicting lunar eclipses.
• Developed mathematical concepts like the sexagesimal (base-60) system for time and angles.
• They designed and built impressive cities, temples, and palaces.
• Babylon became a hub of trade, connecting Mesopotamia to Egypt, Anatolia, and the Indus Valley.
• Influential literary works were produced, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh.

Culture and Society

• Practiced polytheistic religion.
• Citizens worshipped gods and goddesses, including Marduk, Ishtar, and Shamash.
• Organized into a hierarchical society.
• The social hierarchy incorporated kings, nobles, priests, merchants, artisans, and slaves.
• Babylonians practiced monogamy.
• Women held significant social and economic roles.