Art, obsession, and identity
The Babylonians produced a variety of crops. They grew pistachios in the royal gardens, and elsewhere barley, peas, olives, grapes, and wheat, which grew in abundance.
Babylonians spoke the now-extinct Akkadian language, which belongs to the Semitic language branch. It's the earliest attested Semitic language.
Babylonians were skilled at both small-scale art such as jewelry-making, and larger, architectural projects. Their big palaces showcased their skills in architectural design.
Under Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi government excavated ruins and attempted to reconstruct certain features of the ancient city. After the 2003 invasion, US forces built a military base on the ruins. UNESCO reported the base caused major damage to the archaeological site, but in 2009 it was reopened to tourists.
Sources: (History) (Ancient History Lists)
See also: Facts about ancient Rome that you had no idea about
When Hammurabi came to power, the city of Babylon started to grow rapidly. The Babylonians also made huge granaries to preserve their harvests.
After the Babylonian conquest of the Kingdom of Judah in the 6th century BCE, their ruler Nebuchadnezzar II took thousands of Jews from Jerusalem and held them captive for more than half a century. Many returned to Jerusalem after the Neo-Babylonian Empire fell.
As in many ancient societies, having a large family was a matter of pride, as more people could bolster the workforce. More children also guaranteed greater support during old age.
For several centuries, there was a three-way struggle for control of Babylonia between the Assyrians, the Arameans, and the Chaldeans. Wars amongst these civilizations caused their downfalls. The Babylonians took advantage of this, and managed to seize control.
Babylonia reached its peak under the rule of Hammurabi, but after his death the kingdom began to decline. Unlike their father, Hammurabi’s sons were not strong or ambitious, and soon regular attacks from the Kassites led to the fall of ancient Babylonia in 1595 BCE.
Nebuchadnezzar II built the famous hanging garden for his queen. The garden was 75 feet (22 m) tall and consisted of a series of tiered platforms covered with beautiful trees, plants, and flowers. It is believed that the garden was destroyed by an earthquake.
After the death of Hammurabi, the first dynasty of Babylon began to disintegrate rapidly. In 1595 BCE, Babylonia was attacked by an army of the Hittites, people based in Anatolia. They sacked the city completely, carrying off with its treasures.
Early Babylonian texts were written in Akkadian during the first Babylonian dynasty, and the 'Diagnostic Handbook,' written by the king’s chief scholar, is a large medical text that contains the identification and diagnosis of diseases.
The main entrance to the inner city of Babylon was called the Ishtar Gate. It was decorated with bright blue glazed bricks adorned with images of bulls, dragons, and lions.
In ancient Babylon, education was for all, both men and women. Bone and bamboo were used to write on soft clay tablets, which were later dried in the sun.
Babylonians believed in polytheism and worshiped multiple gods and goddesses. They believed the deities were born on earth just like mortals and experienced mortal feelings such as sorrow and happiness.
Under the rule of Hammurabi, Babylon became a major military power with trained soldiers. Hammurabi was an ambitious ruler and conquered all parts of Mesopotamia from the north to the south.
Around 2000 BCE, nomadic people known as the Amorites started to migrate to southern Mesopotamia. They began expanding their influence, taking over many city-states, which played a role in the downfall of the Neo-Sumerian Empire.
Marduk was their chief god, and he was considered to be the creator of the world. Other important Babylonian deities included Ea, the god of wisdom and spells, and Sin, the moon god. Large temples were dedicated to each of the important deities.
The Babylonians excelled in the fields of science and astronomy. Their priests studied the planet and stars very carefully in order to predict the future. They used sundials and water clocks to tell the time, and they adopted the lunar calendar.
In 612 BCE, the emergence of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under the leadership of Nebuchadnezzar II restored the glory of ancient Babylonia. But a century later, in 539 BCE, the Neo-Babylonian Empire was taken over by King Cyrus of Persia, which led to the complete fall of Babylon.
When the ambitious ruler Hammurabi came into power, he introduced a code of more than 200 written rules and regulations that covered issues of land, property, industry, and agriculture.
The sixth ruler of the First Dynasty of Babylon, Hammurabi conducted major building works in Babylon, turning it into a major city. Hammurabi began a series of conquests to expand his empire. He first raided a number of towns and cities, and then defeated the major powers surrounding Babylon.
After the downfall of the Assyrians, Nabopolassar became king of Babylon in 626 BCE, thus establishing the last and greatest period of Babylonia. There was improvement in economic life and agriculture, and a flourishing of architecture, arts, and science.
The destruction of the city by the Hittite enabled their allies, the Kassites, to take control of the region. They established a dynasty that ruled in Babylon from around 1595 BCE to 1158 BCE. It was the longest-ruling dynasty in the history of ancient Mesopotamia.
The code was written on clay tablets and tall, stone pillars. They were strict, and acted as a guideline for most daily activities and situations. The laws were implemented by judges, who were drawn from the upper-class of society. Perhaps most famously, the code of Hammurabi outlined the "eye for an eye" principle of retribution.
The Babylonians were the first in history to introduce the concept of the sales contract, and even introduced a seal into the contract. They regularly imported gold, silver, copper, and salt, and exported grain, clay pots, oil, and leather goods.
Babylon was also famous for its walls, which Hammurabi first ordered to encircle the city. Nebuchadnezzar II further fortified the city with three rings of walls that were 40 feet (12 m) tall.
The city of Babylon appears in both Hebrew and Christian scriptures, and one famous story is that of the Tower of Babel. According to the Old Testament story, humans tried to build a tower to reach the heavens. When God saw this, he destroyed the tower and scattered mankind across the earth, making them speak many languages, so they couldn't understand each other.
Women in Babylonian society were allowed to become priests and were free to start their own businesses. However, a woman's role in the home remained important.
Babylonia was a state in ancient Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq. The city of Babylon, which you've probably heard of in songs and movies, was founded more than 4,000 years ago as a small port town on the Euphrates River. It grew into one of the largest cities of the ancient world, leaving its mark on history through architecture, language, art, religion, and science.
Want to discover more about this fascinating empire? Then check out the gallery.
Interesting facts about the Babylonian Empire
Familiarize yourself with the wonders of this ancient civilization
LIFESTYLE History
Babylonia was a state in ancient Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq. The city of Babylon, which you've probably heard of in songs and movies, was founded more than 4,000 years ago as a small port town on the Euphrates River. It grew into one of the largest cities of the ancient world, leaving its mark on history through architecture, language, art, religion, and science.
Want to discover more about this fascinating empire? Then check out the gallery.