Babylonian Empire
By Alex Y
The Babylonian Empire
The Babylonian Empire was an empire in Mesopotamia that started in 2000 B.C., when people called the Amorites took control of the Sumerian city-states. They chose the city Babylon as their capital, which is why it is call the Babylonian Empire. The kingdom of Babylon was made of four cities, until a man named Hammurabi became king. Hammurabi was king from 1792 B.C. to 1750 B.C. and expanded the Babylonian Empire over all of Mesopotamia. Hammurabi was the sixth Amorite king of the Babylon.
Hammurabi
Hammurabi was born in 1810 B.C., and was the most powerful ruler of the Babylonian Empire. His reign started in 1792 B.C. and lasted until his death in 1750 B.C. During his reign, he established the famous "code of law," which is what made him the most famous Babylonian king. The code contained 282 laws, and was an "eye for an eye" system. He united all of Mesopotamia by conquering it, yet he still brought people together with his wise government and code of law.
The Code of Law
The code of law created by Hammurabi was his greatest accomplishment, and brought justice to all of the empire's citizens. It was fair for everyone, including women and children, which was rare for the time. Also known as Hammurabi's code, the code contained 282 rules. The code established the ideas that the government should protect the people and that laws are an important part of society. The code was a collection of rules already created before the reign of Hammurabi. The code ran on an "eye for an eye" system, and wanted all people to obey the laws. The code was written in cuneiform and displayed on temple pillars for all to see. Overall, Hammurabi wanted to replace the belief of personal revenge to solve problems and provide equal treatment to the people.
Legacy of Hammurabi
Overall, Hammurabi was one of the most important rulers of ancient times. He conquered all of Mesopotamia and created one of the first code of laws. He allowed fair and equal treatment to all people, including women and children, which wasn't normal in ancient cultures. Hammurabi brought people together with his rules and wise government. He thought that laws are important in everyday culture and society. Without Hammurabi, the history of Mesopotamia would be very different, and the Babylonian Empire wouldn't have transformed into a strong empire like it was. Most importantly, Hammurabi provided justice to the people of Mesopotamia and a code of fair laws for the people to obey.
Turning Points in History - Hammurabi's Code of Laws