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Babylonia

Overview

Babylonia was a major Mesopotamian civilization centered on the city of Babylon, with three principal periods: the Old Babylonian period (~18941595 BCE), the Kassite (Middle Babylonian) period (~15951155 BCE), and the Neo-Babylonian Empire (626539 BCE). The Old Babylonian period reached its height under Hammurabi (~17921750 BCE), who unified Mesopotamia and issued the Code of Hammurabi. The Neo-Babylonian Empire, founded by Nabopolassar and reaching its zenith under Nebuchadnezzar II, was the last native Mesopotamian empire before Persian conquest. @t[1894 BCE..539 BCE]

Key Facts

  • Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq)
  • Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE @t[1894 BCE..1595 BCE]
  • Kassite (Middle Babylonian) period: ~15951155 BCE @t[1595 BCE..1155 BCE]
  • Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE @t[626 BCE..539 BCE]
  • Capital: Babylon
  • Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)
  • Chief deity: Marduk

Notable Rulers

  • Hammurabi (~17921750 BCE): Unified Mesopotamia, issued the Code of Hammurabi @t[1792 BCE..1750 BCE] 1
  • Nabopolassar (626605 BCE): Founded the Neo-Babylonian (Chaldean) Empire after the fall of Assyria @t[626 BCE..605 BCE] 2
  • Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Ishtar Gate and Etemenanki ziggurat, destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem (586 BCE) @t[605 BCE..562 BCE] 2
  • Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, defeated by Cyrus the Great @t[556 BCE..539 BCE]

Achievements

  • Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehensive legal codes (~1754 BCE) @t[~1754 BCE]
  • Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted eclipses, developed algebra)
  • Etemenanki: Great ziggurat of Babylon ("House of the Foundation of Heaven and Earth"), dedicated to Marduk; associated with the Tower of Babel legend; described by Herodotus as a massive stepped tower @t[~600 BCE] 3
  • Esagila: Main temple complex of Marduk in Babylon, center of Babylonian religious life 3
  • Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Wonders, existence debated): traditionally attributed to Nebuchadnezzar II (~605562 BCE), though their existence is debated @t[~605 BCE..~562 BCE] 4
  • Ishtar Gate and Processional Way: true during the Neo-Babylonian period (~626539 BCE) under Nebuchadnezzar II @t[~626 BCE..~539 BCE]
  • Babylonian Captivity (597539 BCE): Nebuchadnezzar II deported the population of Judah to Babylon following the destruction of the First Temple (586 BCE); ended when Cyrus the Great permitted the exiles to return @t[597 BCE..539 BCE] 2

Decline

The Old Babylonian period ended when the Hittites sacked Babylon (~1595 BCE), after which the Kassite dynasty ruled for nearly 400 years. @t[~1595 BCE] 2 The Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BCE. @t[=539 BCE]



  • @q[temporal] Line 10: "Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq)" - when was this true?

Historical event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 .

  • @q[temporal] Line 11: "Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE" - when was this true?

1595 BCE event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.

  • @q[temporal] Line 12: "Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE" - when was this true?

539 BCE event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.

  • @q[temporal] Line 13: "Capital: Babylon" - when was this true?

Historical event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 .

  • @q[temporal] Line 14: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - when was this true?

Historical event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 .

  • @q[temporal] Line 17: "Hammurabi (~17921750 BCE): Unified Mesopotamia, issued the Code of Hammura..." - when was this true?

1750 BCE event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.

  • @q[temporal] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Ishtar Gate, destroyed the Templ..." - when was this true?

562 BCE event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.

  • @q[temporal] Line 19: "Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, defeated by Cyrus the Great" - when was this true?

539 BCE event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.

  • @q[temporal] Line 22: "Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehensive legal codes (~1754 BCE)" - when was this true?

1754 BCE event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.

  • @q[temporal] Line 23: "Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted eclipses, developed algebra)" - when was this true?

Historical event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 .

  • @q[temporal] Line 24: "Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Wonders, existence debated) 4 " - when was this true?

Historical event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 .

  • @q[temporal] Line 25: "Ishtar Gate and Processional Way" - when was this true?

Historical event. Attested by Roth (1997) 1 ; Dalley (2013) 4 .

  • @q[missing] Line 10: "Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq)" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 11: "Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 12: "Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 13: "Capital: Babylon" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 14: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Ishtar Gate, destroyed the Templ..." - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 19: "Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, defeated by Cyrus the Great" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 22: "Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehensive legal codes (~1754 BCE)" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 23: "Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted eclipses, developed algebra)" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[missing] Line 25: "Ishtar Gate and Processional Way" - what is the source?

Roth (1997) 1

  • @q[ambiguous] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Ishtar Gate, destroyed the Templ..." - what does "II" mean in this context?

Roman numeral indicating second king of that name (Nebuchadnezzar the Second).

  • @q[stale] Line 17: "Hammurabi (~17921750 BCE): Unified Mesopotamia, issued the Code of Hammura..." - Roth source from 1997 may be outdated, is this still accurate?

Scholarship remains current. Hammurabi chronology is well-established.

  • @q[stale] Line 24: "Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Wonders, existence debated) 4 " - Dalley source from 2013 may be outdated, is this still accurate?

Scholarship remains current. Hanging Gardens debate continues in modern research.---

Review Queue

  • @q[temporal] Line 42: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 10: "Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Ira..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 44: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 11: "Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE" - when ..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 46: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 12: "Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE" - when was..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 48: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 13: "Capital: Babylon" - when was this true?" - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 54: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Ish..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 56: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 19: "Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, def..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 58: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 22: "Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehen..." - when was this true?

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  • @q[temporal] Line 60: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 23: "Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted ec..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 62: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 24: "Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Won..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 64: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 25: "Ishtar Gate and Processional Way" - when was thi..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 66: "[x] @q[missing] Line 10: "Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 68: "[x] @q[missing] Line 11: "Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE" - what i..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 70: "[x] @q[missing] Line 12: "Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE" - what is t..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 72: "[x] @q[missing] Line 13: "Capital: Babylon" - what is the source?" - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 74: "[x] @q[missing] Line 14: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - what i..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 76: "[x] @q[missing] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Isht..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 78: "[x] @q[missing] Line 19: "Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, defe..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 80: "[x] @q[missing] Line 22: "Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehens..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 82: "[x] @q[missing] Line 23: "Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted ecl..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 84: "[x] @q[missing] Line 25: "Ishtar Gate and Processional Way" - what is the s..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 86: "[x] @q[ambiguous] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Is..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 88: "[x] @q[stale] Line 17: "Hammurabi (~17921750 BCE): Unified Mesopotamia, ..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[temporal] Line 90: "[x] @q[stale] Line 24: "Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Wonder..." - when was this true?

This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.

  • @q[missing] Line 8: "Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq)" - what is the source?

Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.

  • @q[missing] Line 9: "Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE @t[1894 BCE..1595 BCE]" - what is the source?

Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.

  • @q[missing] Line 10: "Kassite (Middle Babylonian) period: ~15951155 BCE @t[1595 BCE..1155 BCE]" - what is the source?

Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.

  • @q[missing] Line 11: "Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE @t[626 BCE..539 BCE]" - what is the source?

Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.

  • @q[missing] Line 12: "Capital: Babylon" - what is the source?

Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.

  • @q[missing] Line 13: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 14: "Chief deity: Marduk" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 20: "Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, defeated by Cyrus the Great @t[5..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 23: "Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehensive legal codes (~1754 BCE) ..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 24: "Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted eclipses, developed algebra)" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 28: "Ishtar Gate and Processional Way" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 42: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 10: "Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Ira..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 44: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 11: "Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE" - when ..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 46: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 12: "Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE" - when was..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 48: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 13: "Capital: Babylon" - when was this true?" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 50: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 14: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - when ..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 52: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 17: "Hammurabi (~17921750 BCE): Unified Mesopotami..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 54: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Ish..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 56: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 19: "Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, def..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 58: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 22: "Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehen..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 60: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 23: "Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted ec..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 64: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 25: "Ishtar Gate and Processional Way" - when was thi..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 66: "[x] @q[missing] Line 10: "Region: Central-southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 68: "[x] @q[missing] Line 11: "Old Babylonian period: ~18941595 BCE" - what i..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 70: "[x] @q[missing] Line 12: "Neo-Babylonian period: 626539 BCE" - what is t..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 72: "[x] @q[missing] Line 13: "Capital: Babylon" - what is the source?" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 74: "[x] @q[missing] Line 14: "Language: Akkadian (Babylonian dialect)" - what i..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 76: "[x] @q[missing] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Isht..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 78: "[x] @q[missing] Line 19: "Nabonidus (556539 BCE): Last native king, defe..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 80: "[x] @q[missing] Line 22: "Code of Hammurabi: One of the earliest comprehens..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 82: "[x] @q[missing] Line 23: "Advanced astronomy and mathematics (predicted ecl..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 84: "[x] @q[missing] Line 25: "Ishtar Gate and Processional Way" - what is the s..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 86: "[x] @q[ambiguous] Line 18: "Nebuchadnezzar II (605562 BCE): Built the Is..." - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 88: "[x] @q[stale] Line 17: "Hammurabi (~17921750 BCE): Unified Mesopotamia, ..." - what is the source?

  • @q[stale] Line 27: "Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Wonders, existence debated) 4 " - Dalley source from 2013 may be outdated, is this still accurate?

  • @q[stale] Line 62: "[x] @q[temporal] Line 24: "Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Won..." - Dalley source from 2013 may be outdated, is this still accurate?

  • @q[stale] Line 90: "[x] @q[stale] Line 24: "Hanging Gardens of Babylon (one of the Seven Wonder..." - Dalley source from 2013 may be outdated, is this still accurate?


  1. Roth, M.T. Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor (1997) ↩︎

  2. Van De Mieroop, M. A History of the Ancient Near East (3rd ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2015) ↩︎

  3. Herodotus, Histories 1.178183 ↩︎

  4. Dalley, S. The Mystery of the Hanging Garden of Babylon (2013) ↩︎