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 the conquest 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, from which it received its name. 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 located at the intersection of important trade routes, but at the beginning of the kingdom's development it was a small city with no obvious political ambitions. The state language of the Ancient Babylonian kingdom was the written Semitic Akkadian language, and the Sumerian language was used as a cult language.
Early history of Babylonia
Led by the III dynasty of Ur, the kingdom of Akkad for some time controlled the situation in Mesopotamia, seeking to establish dominance in the region. Babylon was also captured by Akkadian troops.
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.
The Old Babylonian Period and the Laws of Hammurabi
It is believed that Babylon became an independent kingdom in the early 19th century. BC e., and its founder was the Amorite ruler Sumu-abum. The Babylonian kings in subsequent years sought to increase the area of their state. King Hammurabi succeeded best of all, who ruled from 1793 to 1750 BC. e. He captured Ashur, Eshnunna, Elam and other areas of Mesopotamia. As a result, Babylon became the center of a large state.
Hammurabi developed a number of laws that were binding on 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 articles regulated land relations with the allocation of different types of property: communal, private, temple. For encroachment on someone else's property in the Babylonian kingdom, severe punishments were established.
Invasion of the Kassites
Regions of the Ancient Babylonian Kingdom were attacked by various neighboring tribes. So, the Kassite army in 1742 BC. e. invaded Babylonia and caused serious damage to the kingdom, although the complete conquest of the country had not yet taken place. At the same time, the Indo-European tribes of the Hittites attacked the state. As a result of heavy wars, the Kassites managed to subjugate the entire Babylonian kingdom.
However, the conquerors adopted the higher culture of the conquered people. The Kassite nobility firmly merged with the Babylonian. The period of the Kassite dynasty is considered to be the most politically powerful in the Ancient Babylonian kingdom.
In particular, during this period, relations with Egypt significantly strengthened in various areas and, above all, in the commercial sphere. Many princesses from the Kassite dynasty were married to Egyptian pharaohs.
However, the true power of Ancient Babylon was not achieved. Wars with Assyria and Elam weakened the kingdom and in 1150 BC. e. the Kassite dynasty was overthrown by the invading Elamites.
Assyrian domination period
However, the forces of Elam were no longer sufficient to keep Babylonia under their control. In addition, the situation was worsened by the hostile attitude of the local population towards the invaders. The crisis ended with a powerful social explosion and the overthrow of the rule 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 engulfed Mesopotamia and Egypt, allowed the Assyrian army, meeting almost no resistance, in the shortest possible time to subjugate a huge territory, including Babylon. Assyria became 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 another of them in 689 BC. e. the Assyrian king Sinacherib ordered the complete destruction of Babylon. Despite this, the struggle continued.
However, Assyria gradually weakened and lost control over 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 an 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.
Formation of the New Babylonian kingdom
By origin, the new king Nabopalasar was a Chaldean, therefore the dynasty he founded is also called Chaldean. In the first years of his reign, he was still forced to fight Assyria. In this war, the New Babylonian kingdom found an ally for itself - Media.
Through the joining 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 in three months to storm the capital of Nineveh. 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 parts of the Assyrian troops continued to resist for several more years, until they were finally defeated at Karkemish. The lands of the fallen state were divided between 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 fell on 605-562. BC e. It fell to him to solve the most difficult tasks of the New Babylonian kingdom. Among other military victories, he defeated the Jewish kingdom of the Jews. The Babylonian king ascended to the throne of the conquered state. However, this success was not approved by the former ally - Media. To avoid an attack from this side, Nebuchadnezzar erected a wall along the border with Media.
Babylon continued the military policy of conquering the Jews, the army successfully conducted a number of campaigns against the Jerusalem and Judean states. As a result, Nebuchadnezzar retained the kingdom of Palestine, expelling the Egyptian authorities from there. He even attempted invasions of Egypt, which were not crowned with serious success. However, Babylonia managed to achieve the final abandonment of Egypt's claims to Palestine and Syria.
The death of the New Babylonian kingdom
As subsequent events showed, the successes of Nebuchadnezzar II were short-lived. After his death, the Babylonian kingdom was plunged into a prolonged political crisis. During the palace coup, the direct heir, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, was killed, and the real power was in the hands of the priesthood.
The priests, at their discretion, overthrew and enthroned kings. The last ruler of the Babylonian kingdom in 555 BC. e. became Nabonidus. By this time, the foreign policy situation in the region was noticeably tense, since almost all the states of Asia Minor were seized by the young Persian state. In 539 BC. e. the army of the Persians defeated the troops of the last Babylonian king at the walls of the capital. The history of the Babylonian kingdom has come to an end.
